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il 



PiRLUMENTlRY PROCEDURE 



A COMPENDIUM OF ITS RULES 



COMPILED FROM THE LATEST AND HIGHEST 

AUTHORITIES, FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS 

AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF OFFICERS 

AND MEMBERS OF CLUBS, SOCIETIES, 

BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND ALL 

DELIBERATIVE BODIES ''• 



BY 

ADELE M. FIELDE 

n 

SECRETARY OP THE LEAGUE FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION 



Published by the Author 
1899 



Copyright, 1899 
BY Adelb M. Fihlde 

TWO COPIES RSC1!IVE0. 









Press of the 
Edear Printing and Stationery- 
New York 



This Book Is Inscribed 
To Those Who Study It. 



PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. 



Parliamentary Law sets forth the proper 
mode of Procedure in deliberative bodies. 
Its object is to expedite business, obviate 
friction, secure justice, maintain equality, 
and preserve dignity. 

Its rules have been made at no one time, 
nor by any one nation, but have been 
gradually formulated, and are still in pro- 
cess of evolution. Some of them are prob- 
ably centuries old, while others are barely 
established by concensus of recent opinion. 
The British Parliament had so much to do 
in their making, that its name adheres to 
them in all countries where English is 
spoken ; but in America these rules have 
been adapted to another form of govern- 
ment, and are not identical with those fol- 
lowed in England. Even within the United 
States the rules vary, not only in the dif- 
ferent States but often in legislative bodies 
of the same State. Yet their fundamental 



O PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. 

principles are always the same, and they are 
applicable in all situations. 

Each organization has an indisputable 
right to create rules governing its own 
proceedings, but unless it does so by ma- 
jority vote, it exists under the laws gener- 
ally accepted as Parliamentary. These laws 
are finally determined by common sense, 
instructed by large and long experience. 

It is said that the difference between a 
wise man and a fool, is merely that the one 
learns by experience while the other does 
not. To follow Parliamentary Usages is to 
profit by the experiences of others, thus 
avoiding the trouble inherent in personal 
experiences. 

Among a people so addicted as are 
Americans to traveling in every part of 
their commonwealth, and so apt to form 
inter-State associations, the rules learned for 
guidance in the transaction of business 
should be those having national, and not 
merely local, acceptance. Fortunately, we 
have a manual prepared by Thomas B. Reed 



PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. J 

whose long occupation of the Chair 
of the Speaker in the House of Repre- 
sentatives makes him a high authority in 
Parliamentary Law. His profound knowl- 
edge of its principles is everywhere ad- 
mitted, and his new rulings, after discussion 
throughout the country, have been gener- 
ally upheld. 

In the preparation of these lessons Reed's 
Rules have, in most points, been accepted 
as ultimate authority; but Gushing, Rob- 
erts and others have been carefully com- 
pared and often drawn upon. To know all 
these authors is a liberal education to the 
Parliamentarian. To the present writer it 
has nevertheless seemed necessary to make 
a new text-book, because she has found 
none sufficiently elementary, and at the 
same time sufficiently comprehensive, to 
meet the requirements of students. To 
Learning there should be a royal road, and 
any one who can, may well lay further 
paving stones. A. M. F. 

New York, March, 1899. * 



8 



Explanation of Signs used in 
the Tables. 

I, means that the question may Interrupt a 
speaker to whom the floor has been given by 
the presiding officer. 

F, that the introducer of the question must get 
the Floor. 

S, that a Seconder is required. 

D, that the question is Debatable. 

A, that the question is Amendable. 

I , that a two-thirds vote is required. 

R, that the vote upon it can be Reconsidered. 

An interrogation point following a letter indi- 
cates that the case depends on certain condi- 
tions, which can be learned in the text. 

The absence of any letter denotes that what it stands 
for is inapplicable to the preceding question. 

The figure on the left denotes the rank of the ques- 
tion, among its kind. A question can precede 
one of lower rank than itself; but is out of order 
if one of the same rank or of higher rank than 
itself is pending. 

A question is pending from the time it is stated by 
the Chair until it is voted upon. 



Classification of Motions, 

The Main Question, i^ 6". D. A. R, 

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

I — Question of consideration, I. f . R. 
2— To lay on the table, F. S. R-?. 

, The Previous Question, F. S. f . R. 

3 To postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
^ 1 To commit, recommit or refer, F. S.D. A. R. 

^ To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R. 
4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R 



PRIVILEGED QUESTIONS. 
Privileged Motions : 

1 — To fix a time to which to adjourn, S. A. R. 

2 — To adjourn, S. 

3— To take the recess, S. 

Questions of Privilege : 

4 — Concerning the assembly, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.' 
5 — Concerning a member, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.) 



INCIDENTAL QUESTIONS. 

1 — Questions of order, I. R. 
Reading of papers. F. S. R. 
Withdrawal of motion, F. S. R. 
Suspension of rules, F. S. |. 
Division of question, F. S. A. R. 
Method of consideration, F. S. A. R. 



Appeal from the Ruling of Chair, S. D- ? R , 



TO reconsider, i, s. d-?, to rescind, f . s . d . a , r , 



lO 

Reference Table for Application of 
Subsidiary Motions. 

All Subsidiary Motions apply to the Main Ques- 
tion , and all except the Question of Consideration, 
apply to Questions of Privilege after they have been 
admitted as Privileged . 

1 — Question of consideration ; applies to main ques- 
tion only. 

2 — Lay on the table ; applies to the main question, 
to questions of privilege, to an appeal, to an 
amendment of the minutes, and to the motion 
to reconsider. 

3 — The Previous Question ; applies to all debatable 
motions. When specifically applied to other 
Subsidiary motions, to an appeal, or to a motion 
to reconsider, it does not close debate on the 
main question. 

4 — Postpone to a certain time ; applies to the main 
question and to questions of privilege. 

5— Commit; applies to the main question and to 
questions of privilege. 

6 — Postpone indefinitely ; applies to the main ques- 
tion and to questions of privilege. 

7 — Amend ; applies to the main question, to questions 
of privilege, to motions to postpone to a certain 
time, to commit, to amend, to fix the time to 
which to adjourn, to motion for the division of 
a question, and to motions as to method of con- 
sideration. 

RECONSIDERATION. 
The motion to Reconsider applies to the vote on all 
questions, except to adjourn, to take the recess, to 
suspend the rules, to reconsider, to an afiirmative 
vote to lay on or take from the table, and to votes 
taken by ballot, or for elections. But no vote can be 
reconsidered later than the day on which it was ta- 
ken, nor can it be reconsidered if it has been follow- 
ed by any action consequent upon the vote. 



II 
Reference Table for Eank of Motions. 

1 — To fix tlie time to which to adjourn, the time 
for the next meeting not having been fixed, and 
if no motion for recess is pending : may be made 
even after the vote has been taken on the mo- 
tion to adjourn and before it is announced by 
the Chair. 

2 — To Adjourn, if the motion be unqualified ; but 
it is not in order when a motion to close de- 
bate, or to take a recess is pending, nor when 
the question of consideration is pending. 

3 — To Reconsider, made for record ; may be made 
even after the vote on the motion to adjourn has 
been taken and before the vote thereupon is 
announced. 

4— To take a recess, the time for which has been fixed. 

5 — Questions of Privilege concerning the assembly. 

6 — Questions of Privilege concerning a member. 

7 — Questions of order, including orders of the day. 

8 — Other incidental questions. 

9 — Question of Consideration ; if this question be 
seasonably raised, it cannot be superseded by 
any other, except a point of order. It does not 
yield to orders of the day. 

10 — To lay on the table. 

{The Previous Question. 
To postpone to a certain time. 
To commit, recommit or refer. 
To postpone indefinitely. 

12 — To amend. 

Lastly, the main question. 



Parliamentary Procedure. 



The Principal Motion or 
Main Question. 

Any proposition brought before an as- 
sembly for its consideration is called a 
motion or a question. Any question intro- 
duced when no other is before the assembly 
is the principal motion or main question. 
It may be a bill, a petition, a resolution, 
the report of a committee, or a paper sent 
from another convocation or branch of the 
government. 

There can be but one main question at 
a time, and it must remain before the 
assembly until it is disposed of by a vote. 

HoTT it is Introduced. 

It may be introduced by any member, 
and, if lengthy or important, should be 
written. The reasons for writing it are 
three. The introducer will probably make 
it more concise when writing it, the Chair 



14 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

will be able to state it precisely as the in- 
troducer dictated, and the Recording Sec- 
retary can enter it correctly in the minutes. 
The Chair may refuse to state a main 
question that is not in writing. 

With the written motion in his hand 
the mover rises in his place in the assembly ^ 
and addresses the Chair. The presiding 
officer is always referred to as " the Chair," 
and never by a personal name. In reli- 
gious conventions the Chair is generally 
addressed as Mr. Moderator, in many 
secular societies as Mr. President, in the 
House of Representatives as Mr. Speaker, 
in women's associations as Madam Chair- 
man or Madam President. 

The term Madam should be used in- 
stead of Mrs. or Miss, and is applicable to 
any lady. The term Chairman is applied 
to the office held, and is suitably applied 
to persons of either sex. A Chairman 
usually presides over a temporary organi- 
zation or a committee, while a President is 
elected to a permanent office. 

Having risen in his place and addressed 
the Chair the mover awaits recognition by 
the Chair. He obtains the floor by having 
his name pronounced by the Chair. If 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 5 

the Chair does not know the name of the 
speaker the latter should announce it, so 
that it may be repeated by the Chair. The 
speaker must not proceed until he has 
been given the floor. There may be many 
claiming the floor simultaneously, and it is 
for the Chair alone to decide who shall 
occupy the time of the assembly, and to 
select appropriate speakers. The name of 
the one to whom the floor is given should 
be pronounced distinctly and loudly in 
order to gratify the legitimate curiosity of 
the hearers in regard to the personality of 
one to whom they listen, and also because 
questions have greater or less weight with 
the assembly in accordance with the 
amount of knowledge of the subject 
thought to be possessed by the introducer 
of the measure. 

When he has been given the floor the mover 
reads the motion and then sits down. A copy 
of the motion may have been previously 
laid upon the clerk's desk, or the mover may 
pass his written motion up to the Chair. 

If the mover be a careful person he has 
engaged a seconder before reading his 
motion. Unless there be at least two 
members who are in favor of the motion it 



1 6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

is not worth while for the assembly to 
consider it, and the Chair should not state 
it. 

It is best for every assembly not legis- 
lative to adhere strictly to the rule that all 
principal motions shall be seconded. One 
reason for this rule is that a rider of hobbies 
is thereby prevented from inopportunely 
introducing motions; and another reason 
is that it preserves a sensible member 
who chances to make an absurd mo- 
tion from having his motion put before 
the assembly by the Chair. " Even a god 
sometimes misunderstands," but two gods 
do not often misunderstand at the same 
moment. The rule that motions shall be 
seconded before being stated by the Chair 
is a protection to the assembly and to its 
individual members. 

By special rule in the House of Repre- 
sentatives motions are not there seconded. 

If the Chair considers the motion one 
that ought to come before the assembly, 
and that failure to second it is through an 
oversight, he may say, " Is the motion 
seconded ? " If no seconder appears other 
business is at once taken up. If the motion 
is seconded the seconder must rise in his 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1/ 

place, SO that the eye may assist the ear of 
the Chair and of the members in ascertain- 
ing that the motion is seconded. It is dis- 
respectful to an assembly and to its pre- 
siding officer to make any remark without 
rising. The seconder need not get the 
floor, but should address the Chair, saying, 
" / second the " motion, resolution, amend- 
ment, nomination or request, as the case 
may be. 

After the motion is seconded the Chair 
states it — that is, he rises and reads it from 
the paper that has been handed to him. 
The Chair is obliged to state every motion 
properly introduced. 

The Chair may sit, except when address- 
ing the assembly as a whole ; and he ad- 
dresses the assembly as a whole whenever 
he states a question, whenever he puts a 
question to vote, and when he gives notices 
or makes announcements. 

Up to the time of statement by the Chair 
the motion belongs to its introducer, and 
he has the right to alter it of his own will 
alone, or upon the suggestion of the pre- 
siding office or of another member. He 
may alter it without reference to his sec- 
onder ; but after alteration it must be again 



1 8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

seconded. After the Chair states it, it be- 
comes the property of the assembly and 
the introducer has no more power than 
has any other member to amend, to change 
or to dispose of it. It becomes subject to 
the vote of the assembly. But before 
being voted upon it is to be discussed, and 
the Chair says, " Are there any remarks f " 
or, " The question is open to debate," or, 
** What is the pleasure of the assembly 
concerning this measure? " His purpose 
is to have arguments for and against the 
measure so presented as to make the vote 
upon it an intelligent one. 

Debate. 

In debate the introducer of the question 
is, if he desires to speak, usually first given 
the floor, because he is supposed to be 
best able to explain the motion and to set 
forth supporting reasons ; but he cannot 
claim the floor as a right. If the Chair has 
a clue to the position of the debaters he 
should give the floor alternately to advo- 
cates and to objectors, so that light may 
be thrown on all sides of the subject. 

Each debater must address the Chair, get 
the floor, speak to the point, keep within the 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 9 

time limit, and refrain from personalities. 
No member may speak more than once on 
any question if there be others who desire to 
speak, with the exception that the mover 
has always the right to speak last in the 
debate. A question may, however, be ad- 
dressed through the Chair and necessary 
information be obtained from another mem- 
ber without it being regarded as a speech 
made in debate. 

Though a member can speak but once 
on a question at the same stage, a member 
who has spoken on a main question has 
the right to speak again on each amend- 
ment, and again on every amendment to an 
amendment. If debate is allowable, the 
thing next to be voted upon is the only 
debatable topic, and the statement of 
any undebatable motion shuts off all 
debate until that motion has been voted 
upon. 

If members are alluded to it must not be 
by name, but by some descriptive device, 
as " the last speaker," '' the member from 
Arizona," " my honorable colleague," etc. 

The debate should not be a dispute, but 
an appeal to reason. No harsh expres- 
sions may be used about other members, 



20 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

whether absent or present, nor may motives 
be imputed. 

Those not having the floor must be 
silent, and must refrain from everything that 
indicates disrespect or distracts attention. 

The Disposition of the Mo- 
tion or Resolution can be 
Decided in no other Way 
than by a Vote. 

A majority vote is more than one -half 
the number of votes cast. 

A plurality vote is the highest number 
cast, that number being less than half the 
total. 

A tie vote is an equal number on each 
side. 

A two-thirds vote is not less than two- 
thirds, and a three-fourths vote is not less 
than three-fourths of the total number of 
votes cast. 

In a unanimous vote, all vote alike. By 
a unanimous vote an assembly can do any- 
thing that it is competent to do, even in 
contravention of its own rules or the rules 
of Parliamentary Procedure. To assert 
otherwise is to deny to the assembly the 
power of self-government. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21 

There are Six Established 
Methods of Voting. 

1. By General Consent. The Chair may, 
on routine questions, expedite business by 
assuming the consent of the assembly, 
providing no one objects. For instance, 
he may say, " If there be no objection, the 
minutes as corrected stand approved " ; or, 
" If there be no objection, the motion is 
referred to the Standing Committee on Re- 
Hef"; or, '*If there be no objection, the 
motion is adopted and will be so recorded 
by the clerk," The Chairman should take 
the vote by general consent only in cases 
where there is no probability of difference 
of opinion. If any objection is raised, a 
more formal vote must be at once taken. 
Any member who objects, rises, addresses 
the Chair, and says, ''I object." 

2. By Acclamation, The question is put 
to the assembly, and then the Chair says, 
''Those in favor of this motion will say 
aye. Those opposed will say no.'' Vote 
is by voice, and the Chair judges by the 
volume of sound reaching his ear whether 
the vote is affirmative or negative. He 
then says, " The ayes have it, and the mo- 



22 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

tion is carried " ; or, '' The noes have it, and 
the motion is lost." 

3. The Standing Vote. If the Chair is 
in doubt he may say so and ask for a 
standing vote, saying, *' Those in favor of 
this motion will rise and stand to be 
counted," and when the count has been 
made by the Chair, by the Secretary, or by 
tellers, one of whom counts the affirma- 
tive and the other the negative votes, the 
Chair asks the members to be seated, and 
then calls for the opposing vote to be given 
in the same manner. Any member may 
ask for a standing vote. 

The St mding Vote is also termed a di- 
vision of the house. If many persons are 
already standing for lack of seats, the divi- 
sion may be made by going to different 
sides of the room, or into different lobbies. 
When there is a division of the house, the 
Chair in any case of uncertainty decides 
who has a right to vote and who shall be 
excused from voting. After division is 
over, the assembly may correct any error 
made by the Chair. 

Besides being used for verification, the 
Standing Vote is called for when it is de- 
sired to show respect to persons of dis- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 23 

tinctioji, or to the memory of a deceased 
member, and whenever great determination 
is to be expressed. 

4. By Raising of Hmtds. This method 
of voting is useful where noise is to be 
avoided and where the assembly is small. 
The Chair puts the question in the follow- 
ing form : *' As many as are in favor of this 
motion will raise the right hand. — The 
count is made. — As many as are opposed 
will manifest it in the same manner." 

5 . By Yeas and Nays. The vote is taken 
by yeas and nays whenever so required by 
the number of members designated by a 
rule of the assembly. In the U. S. Con- 
gress, one-fifth of a quorum can order the 
vote to be taken by yeas and nays. Unless 
a special rule governs the assembly, the 
yeas and nays should be taken only when 
called for by a majority vote, as it is a slow 
process of voting, and is sometimes called 
for in order to consume time and delay 
business. 

The object of taking a vote in this way 
is to enable the clerk to keep a record of 
the vote of each member. The Chair puts 
the question in the following form : ''Those 
in favor of the adoption of the resolution 



24 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

will, when their names are called, answer 
yes ; those opposed will answer no^ The 
Secretary or Clerk, having a list of the 
names of members in alphabetic order, 
proceeds to call the roll. Each member 
rises when his name is called and answers 
either yes or no, and the clerk records the 
answer given, the yeas in one column and 
the nays in another. The column for yeas 
usually stands before the names, the col- 
umn for nays after them, on the right. 
The clerk puts down the number of each 
in consecutive order, adding as he goes. 
After the list has been gone through the 
Clerk reads the names of those who voted 
in the affirmative, and afterward the names 
of those who voted in the negative, permit- 
ting errors to be corrected. The Clerk then 
hands the Hst to the Chair, who announces 
the result of the vote. The list of votes as 
taken must be recorded in the minutes. 

In taking the vote by yeas and nays the 
call cannot be interrupted after the first 
name has been called, but must be con- 
tinued to the end, even though the hour 
for adjournment be past. 

The vote on the question of demanding 
the yeas and nays is taken by rising. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^$ 

As each member responds to his name, 
yes or no, his vote is counted aloud by the 
Clerk. 

A member who calls for the yeas and 
nays is himself required to vote. 

6. Bj/ Ballot. This form of voting is 
intended to be absolutely secret, and is 
used only when required by the rules, or 
in election of officers, or when a motion is 
carried for special cases to be decided by 
ballot. The Chair appoints two or more 
tellers who distribute blank ballots upon 
which the members write their votes. No 
more than the requisite number of ballots 
should be given to any member, and when 
written the ballot should be folded and 
held in such a manner that the tellers can 
see that no more than the legitimate num- 
ber of votes is deposited by one member. 
Each member should cast his ballot with 
his own hand. When the ballot is de- 
clared by the Chair to be closed, the tellers 
collect all the ballots, without personally 
touching them, and in the presence of the 
assembly, or of its appointed inspectors, 
count each ballot separately, making a list 
of the ballots cast and of each person or 
object receiving a vote. Blank ballots are 



26 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

not counted, and doubtful ones are cast 
out. The misspelling of a name does not 
invalidate a ballot. 

Having completed the count, the tellers 
make a statement to the Chair, who, if the 
ballot be for election, announces the result 
as follows : " The total number of votes 

cast is . The number necessary to a 

choice is . Mr. A. having received 

votes is therefore declared elected." In 
case no candidate receives the number of 
votes required, a new ballot must be taken, 
and still another and another till there is 
an election. 

Black and white balls are often used in 
balloting, the black being used for nega- 
tive, the white for affirmative votes. In 
this case the members go to the ballot box 
to deposit their votes, their names being 
checked off as they vote. 

If there be but one candidate, or if the 
assembly be unanimously in favor of one 
candidate, and the Constitution requires 
the election to be by ballot, much time 
may be saved by authorizing the Secretary 
or a Teller to cast the ballot for the candi- 
date. In such case it is customary for 
some member to move, for instance, *' that 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 2J 

the Secretary be instructed to cast the bal- 
lot for Mr. A. as Treasurer." This is sec- 
onded, and the Chair puts the motion to 
vote by acclamation. If carried, the Sec- 
retary lays upon the table a slip of paper 
bearing the name of Mr. A., and says, " I 
cast the ballot for Mr. A. as Treasurer." 
The Chair then says, '' Mr. A. is declared 
elected." 

But if the vote to have the ballot cast by 
the person named be not unanimous, then 
the balloting must be carried through in 
the usual way. 

A vote by ballot cannot be reconsidered, 
but it can be thrown out if found to be ir- 
regular. 

Vote and Voting*. 

A motion to make a vote unanimous fails 
if any objection is raised. A vote can be 
made unanimous only by a unanimous 
vote. The motion may be made only by 
one of the minority. 

No member should vote upon a question 
in which he is solely or chiefly concerned. 

The negative as well as the affirmative 
vote should always be taken, except when 
the vote is known to be unanimous, and 



28 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

excepting also the vote upon a resolution 
of thanks, a message of condolence, or 
any motion upon which a negative vote 
would violate good taste. 

// is the duty of all members to vote, but it 
is not necessary that all should vote in or- 
der to reach a valid decision. If a com- 
petent number be present, business may be 
transacted whether few or many choose to 
vote. Those persistently silent cannot, 
therefore obstruct business if others are 
prepared to proceed to a decision. 

A member may change his vote, when 
not taken by ballot, before the result has 
been announced by the Chair, but not af- 
terward. 

Any member not present when the ques- 
tion was stated, has no right to vote there- 
upon. 

The mover may in the progress of 
debate be converted to an opposing view 
of his own motion, and he may vote 
against it, though he may not speak 
against it. 

It must be remembered that no debate 
is permissible before the statement of a 
motion by the Chair, and that after voting 
there can be no further debate. Ample 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 29 

opportunity for discussion should be given 
after the motion is stated and before it is 
put to vote. Every member has the right 
to know precisely what he is to vote upon, 
and the Chair should distinctly state the 
question before debate, and should clearly 
put the question before calling for the 
vote. 

The rejection of a proposition is an ad- 
vancement of business as surely as is its 
acceptance. 

No motion is in order that conflicts with 
the Constitution or By-laws of a society, 
nor with its Special Rules, nor with any 
proposition already agreed to ; and if 
any such motion be carried it is of no 
effect. 

After a motion is stated it must stand as 
stated, unless amended by vote. Debate 
may influence the vote upon a motion, but 
cannot change the motion itself The ob- 
ject of debate is to win votes. 

When the Chair sees that no one wishes 
to discuss the question longer, he may rise 
and say, ''Are you ready for the question ?" 
or, " If there is no further debate the vote 
will now be taken." He then may put the 
question to vote. 



3P PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

When the Chair Votes. 

1. The Chair Votes when the Vote is by 
Ballot. In this case he votes when others 
vote, and in precisely the same way. His 
vote counts for no more and no less than 
that of any other member. 

2. The Chair Votes when the Yeas and 
Nays are called. In this case he votes, 
not in the alphabetic order of his name, but 
last of all, the other officers voting just be- 
fore him. This arrangement prevents the 
votes of the members of the assembly from 
being unduly influenced by the vote of the 
officers. 

3. The Chair may Vote whenever his 
Vote changes the Result. He has the cast- 
ing vote, and may vote 

(a) When there is a tie. If there be a tie 
the motion is lost because there is no ma- 
jority. If the Chair does not wish to save 
the measure he says, "• There is a tie and 
the motion is lost." But if the Chair 
wishes to save the measure he says, '^There 
is a tie ; the Chair votes with the ayes and 
the motion is carried." 

It is evident that the vote which changes 
the result has no greater power when the 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 3 I 

Chair casts it than it would have if cast by 
any other member. The Chair does not, 
through being in the chair, lose his right 
to vote at any time when other members 
may vote, but he refrains from voting be- 
cause his single vote has no power except 
as a casting vote, and then he votes or re- 
frains from voting in accordance with his 
view of the question at issue. He is not 
obliged to vote. If he votes when there is 
a tie, he always votes in the affirmative. 

{b) The Chair may vote when his vote 
makes a tie. If there be a majority of but 
one, the Chair may change the result by 
voting with the noes, thus destroying the 
majority. In this case, instead of saying 
" The ayes have it and the motion is car- 
ried," he says, for instance, "■ There are 
nine ayes and eight noes. The Chair votes 
with the noes, making a tie, and the motion 
is lost." When the vote of the Chair 
makes a tie he always votes in the nega- 
tive. Of course, the exact number of votes 
on each side must have been previously 
ascertained by a standing vote or by a show 
of hands. 

When the vote is by ballot, the Chair, if 
he vote at all, must vote at the same time 



32 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

and in the same way as do other members, 
and he cannot again vote if the result prove 
to be a tie or a majority of one. 

(c) In the same way the Chair may make 
up or destroy a two-thirds or a three-fourths 
or any required vote, provided the result 
be such that it can be changed by a single 
vote. For instance, he may say after the 
count has been made on a motion requir- 
ing a two-thirds vote, " There are nine 
ayes and five noes. The Chair votes with 
the ayes, making the required two-thirds, 
and the motion is carried." Or there may 
be before the assembly an amendment to 
the Constitution requiring a three-fourths 
vote, and the count may have shown fifteen 
ayes and five noes. If the Chair wishes to 
prevent the amendment he may say, ''There 
are fifteen ayes and five noes. The Chair 
votes with the noes, destroying a three- 
fourths vote, and the amendment is lost." 

When the Chair thus votes, his declara- 
tion of the result makes it plain that his 
vote has been cast with the purpose of 
changing that result. 

A motion once lost cannot be introduced 
again during the session unless the vote be 
reconsidered. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 33 

Meeting. Session. 

A meeting is a single assemblage, cover- 
ing only the time from convening to ad- 
journment. A session may continue a day, 
a month, or a year, and may consist of one 
or of a series of meetings. The sessions of 
clubs are properly divided by their annual 
meetings, and a lost motion, in such an 
organization, should not therefore be again 
introduced, if introduced at all, until after 
the next annual meeting. 

Subsidiary Motions. 

1 — Question of consideration, I. f. R. 

2— To lay on the table, F. S. R.- ? 

, The previous question, F. S. f . R. 
- 3 ^<^ postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
1 To commit, recommit or refer, F.S.D.A.R. 
' To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R 

4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R. 

The seven subsidiary motions may be 
applied singly to the principal motion for 
the purpose of disposing of it temporarily 
or finally, or of modifying it in such man- 
ner as to make it express the will of the 
assembly more perfectly. 



34 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

As a rule, the subsidiary motions are' 
not applicable to each other ; but there are 
exceptions in the Previous Question, which t 
may be applied to any debatable motion, 
and in the motion to amend which may be 
appHed to itself, and to the motions to 
commit and to postpone to a certain time. ; 

Subsidiary motions must always be de- 
cided before the principal motion. None 
of them need be in writing, except an 
amendment, which should be written if 
lengthy. The introducer of subsidiary,, 
or any other motions, should always rise! 
and address the Chair, and every seconder 
should do likewise. All the subsidiary 
motions, except the question of considera- 
tion, must be seconded. The high rank 
of the question of consideration, and the 
fact that it can be introduced only before 
debate has begun, gives it power to inter- 
rupt the first speaker in debate, and to be 
raised without getting the floor. For all 
subsidiary questions of lower rank the floor 
must be obtained. Were the rule other- 
wise, the Chair in times of excitement and 
the making of many different motions sim- 
ultaneously, would be unable to preserve 
order in the rank of motions. Since each 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 35 

subsidiary motion has a unique effect upon 
the main question, the fate of the main 
question often depends upon strict adher- 
ence to the rule that the subsidiary motions 
applied to it shall be each stated in the 
order demanded by its established rank. 

The relative rank of the seven subsidiary 
motions is indicated by the figures at the 
extreme left in the foregoing table. 

Four of these questions are more or less 
debatable, and three of them may be 
amended. All except two are carried by 
a majority vote. The only vote upon any 
of them which cannot be reconsidered is 
an affirmative vote on the motion to lay on 
the table. 

The Question of Considera- 
tion. 

I. i R. 

The assembly, on hearing a propo- 
sition, may decide to consider it, or 
may refuse to consider it. The question 
proposed may tend to contention, or may 
be libelous, irrelevant, or unprofitable. In 
order to determine whether the assembly 
will consider it, any member may raise the 
question of consideration, rising in his 



36 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

place, addressing the Chair, and saying, "I 
raise the question of consideration." This 
requires no seconder. The Chair may 
raise the question solely on his own re- 
sponsibility. 

This question was formerly put to every 
principal motion as soon as the Chair had 
stated it ; but now every question properly 
introduced is considered, unless a vote 
against consideration is given. The ques- 
tion of consideration can be raised only be- 
fore the main question has been considered. 
A speaker to whom the floor has already 
been given may be interrupted by it. But 
after the first speaker has more than begun 
his speech, or after any subsidiary or inci- 
dental motion applying to the main ques- 
tion has been stated by the Chair, it is 
too late to raise the question of considera- 
tion. It has then already been considered, 
and therefore the question of consideration 
is no longer relevant. 

This question is applicable to nothing 
but the main question. It is not debata- 
ble nor amendable. No subsidiary motion 
can be applied to it. 

Though this question has no standing 
unless seasonably raised, if seasonably 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 3/ 

raised it is not taken off the floor by any- 
thing except a point of order, and does not 
yield place even to an order of the day. 

A two thirds negative vote is required 
to prevent consideration. A motion might 
be able to secure the respect of the assem- 
bly, although a bare majority thought its 
consideration inexpedient, and an elucida- 
tion of the subject during debate might 
even show it to be of great importance. A 
question ought not therefore to be sup- 
pressed, and debate prevented, on less than 
a two-thirds vote against it. 

When, after the statement of the main 
question and before debate has begun, 
many subsidiary questions are simultane- 
ously raised, this question takes precedence 
of all others, and is stated first by the Chair. 
When the Chair hears a member say, '' I 
raise the question of consideration," the 
Chair at once puts it to vote, allowing no 
debate, and saying, " The question of con- 
sideration is raised. Those in favor of 
considering the question will rise and stand 
to be counted. — Be seated. — Those op- 
posed will rise." Thereafter the Chair an- 
nounces the result of the vote, saying, 
either, " The ayes have it, and the question 



38 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

will be considered " ; or, *' The noes have 
it, and the assembly refuses to consider the 
question." If the ayes have it, a two-thirds 
negative vote not having been given, the 
assembly proceeds to consider the question 
just as though the question of considera- 
tion had not been raised. But if the noes 
have it, the principal motion is dropped 
out of the proceedings, and, like a lost mo- 
tion, cannot again be introduced during 
the session. The principal motion and also 
the disposal of it are, however, recorded 
in the minutes. 

An affirmative vote on the question of 
consideration can be reconsidered, but not 
after consideration has begun. A negative 
vote can be reconsidered at any time dur- 
ing the day on which the question was 
raised. 

To Lay on the Table. 

F. S. R- ? 

If a motion to lay on the table is carried, 
it removes the principal question temporarily 
from the assembly, the time for which it is 
laid away being undetermined. It may be 
r^ade by the friends or by the enemies of 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 39 

the proposition. If there is no probability 
of obtaining a majority vote for the main 
question and its friends hope it will have a 
better chance at a later time, they may 
move to lay it on the table in order to pre- 
vent its defeat. On the other hand, the 
enemies of the measure may think its 
friends so powerful that there is danger 
of its being carried, and may hope that 
by temporarily laying it aside ^ they can 
strengthen their own force against it. Or 
time may be lacking for present discussion 
of it, or another question may require to be 
first'decided, or advantage may in some 
way be gained by delay. 

By laying the question on the table, it 
remains within the power of the assembly 
to resume its consideration at any time 
when no other question is before the as- 
sembly. It may be taken up at any time 
after other business shall have been transact- 
ed, and before the end of the session. 

This motion is often made with the intention 
of defeating a measure. If a question is laid 
upon the table and is not taken up before 
the end of the session, it has to be intro- 
duced as a new question, if introduced at 
all, at the next session. 



40 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, 

The fundamental principles of Parlia- 
mentary Law require that every motion that 
suppresses a question that the assembly has 
decided to consider, should itself be open to 
full debate. Laying a question on the table 
leaves it so that the assembly can at any 
time consider it further, and this motion is 
therefore not debatable. 

This question is of high rank, and if 
many subsidiary motions are simultaneous- 
ly made after debate has begun, this is first 
stated. It can be made when any other 
subsidiary motion, except the question of 
consideration, is pending. This high rank, 
giving power to supersede other subsidiary 
motions, is incompatible with the right of oc- 
cupying time in debate. If questions of high 
rank were debatable, they could be used to 
prevent the assembly from coming to a vote 
on the main question and could thus great- 
ly hinder business. 

This motion applies to the main question 
and to what adheres to the main question. It 
may also be applied to a question of privi- 
lege, to an appeal from a decision of the 
Chair, to a motion for reconsideration, and 
to an amendment to the minutes, these 
questions having the status of main ques- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 4 1 

tions while before the house. If it is de- 
cided in the affirmative, the motion to 
which it is appHed, together with all other 
motions at the time connected with it, is 
removed from before the assembly until it 
is by a majority vote again taken up. 

An amendment to the minutes, however, 
being laid on the table, does not carry the 
minutes with it ; a motion to reconsider, 
when laid on the table, leaves the original 
question unaffected ; and an appeal, laid on 
the table, does not influence the main ques- 
tion. 

The motion to lay on the table can be 
neither quaHfied nor amended. It may be 
made before debate begins, at any time 
during debate, and even after debate is 
closed. It may be made when amend- 
ments are pending, and if then carried, 
it carries to the table all pending amend- 
ments ; and these are also t?ken from 
the table whenever the main question is 
taken up. In the same way, if agreed to, it 
carries to the table the motion to postpone, 
to commit, to close debate, or any other 
adherent motion. The mover says : ''I 
move to lay this question on the table." 
The Chair says : '* It is moved to lay this 



42 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

question on the table. Those in favor of so 
doing will say aye. Those opposed will say 
noy Then the Chair announces the result 
of the vote, saying ; "The ayes have it, and 
the question is laid on the table;" or, *'The 
noes have it, and the question is still before 
the assembly." 

If the motion is lost, it may be re- 
newed after an amendment has been made. 

An affirmative vote on this motion cannot 
be reconsidered, because a speedier way of 
reaching the same result would be by a 
motion to take from the table. A negative 
vote can be reconsidered, but not after the 
business has proceeded farther, because the 
motion can then be renewed. 

To Take From the Table. 

F. S. R- ? 

A question that has been laid on the table 
may be taken from the table at any time 
after other business has been transacted, 
when no other business is before the as- 
sembly. 

The motion to take it from the table 
must be made by some one who voted to 
lay it on the table. The justice of this 
rule is apparent if we suppose the question 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 43 

to have been laid on the table by its friends, 
and that in their absence the enemies of the 
measure ought not to be able to take it up 
and adversely dispose of it. Whatever fac- 
tion laid the question on the table has a 
right to hold it there during their pleasure, 
they being necessarily a majority. It is 
therefore expedient to vote with the ma- 
jority, if the question is inevitably to be laid 
on the table. 

No subsidiary motion can be applied 
to the motion to take from the table. The 
mover says : '* I move to take from the table 

the question concerning ." If carried, 

the Secretary reads from the minutes the 
question to be taken up, making plain the 
adherent motions. 

When taken from the table the question 
stands just as it did when laid on the table. 

If a motion to take from the table is lost 
it can be renewed at any time after other 
business has been transacted, when no busi- 
ness is before the house, and therefore an 
affirmative vote on this motion cannot be 
reconsidered. A negative vote upon it 
may be reconsidered. 

A question may be laid upon the table and 
taken therefrom any number of times. 



44 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The Previous Question. 

F. S. f . R. 

This is a term inherited from England, 
where it was formerly used in avoidance of a 
direct vote on matters affecting high person- 
ages. In America it means the closing of de- 
bate. Were there no way of shutting off 
debate, the minority might by persistent dis- 
cussion prevent a decision upon the business 
before the assembly. If the motion for the 
Previous Question is carried, it cuts off debate 
and brings the assembly to vote on the 
pending question. If determined in the 
negative the debate goes on. 

The Previous Question may be moved to 
all debatable motions and is limited to that 
to which it is applied by the mover. It 
can be moved solely on an amendment, on 
an amendment to an amendment, on the 
motion to refer to a committee, on the mo- 
tion to postpone to a certain time, or on the 
motion to postpone indefinitely. 

Its force is exhausted when it has accom- 
plished its object, the closing of the debate 
on that to which it is applied. If applied 
to postponement only, it does not close de- 
bate on the main question ; if to the motion 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 45 

to commit, it is exhausted when the ques- 
tion of reference to a committee is decided ; 
if to an amendment, its force ceases when 
the amendment has been voted upon. If 
apphed to a main question when amend- 
ments are pending it also covers the amend- 
ments, and neither the amendments nor the 
main question can be further debated. 

In the U. S. Senate the Previous Ques- 
tion cannot be moved, prejudice being 
strong against shutting off debate in that de- 
hberative body. 

The motion to close debate should be 
made only when debate has exhausted the 
subject, and when there is no probability of 
further enlightenment through discussion. 

The right of debate on any debatable 
question does not cease until the assembly 
so orders by the adoption of the Previous 
Question. Unless so ordered, debate may 
even interrupt the vote if the noes have not 
been called for. If there be debate after 
the ayes have responded, then the vote 
must again be taken. But after the noes 
have been called for, debate must in any 
case cease. 

To shut off further debate is looked upon 
as so serious an action that a two-thirds 



46 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

affirmative vote is generally required to 
carry the Previous Question ; but when 
party feeling runs high the rule for a two- 
thirds vote might defeat the object of the 
motion. In the House of Commons a 
majority, with the assent of the speaker, 
may close debate. 

Common unwillingness to cut off discus- 
sion is probably a sufficient protection 
against the abuse of this motion. 

It ranks below the Question of Consid- 
eration and the motion to lay on the table, 
and it should not be moved when either of 
these is pending. It is of the same rank 
with the two motions to postpone and the mo- 
tion to refer to acommittee, and cannot be put 
while either of its equals in rank is pending. 

In some legislative bodies the Previous 
Question outranks the other three just 
named, as well as the motion to amend, 
and may be put when either of them is 
pending. 

An adjournment may be moved after the 
Previous Question is ordered and before 
the main question is voted upon. If carried, 
the main question is put to vote at the 
next meeting immediately after the reading 
of the minutes, or as unfinished business. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 47 

A question may be laid on the table 
after debate upon it has been closed; 
but it cannot be debated if taken up at 
a later time. 

No debatable motion can be applied to 
the main question after debate upon it has 
been closed by vote. 

It is allowable for a member to submit a 
resolution and at the same time move the 
Previous Question thereon. 

The Previous Question may be affirma- 
tively voted upon before debate has begun, 
thus preventing debate. 

The adoption of the motion closing de- 
bate does not deprive the introducer of the 
principal motion of his right to speak last in 
debate, and one speech may therefore be 
made after the Previous Question is or- 
dered on the main question. 

There are, in common use, various mis- 
leading forms of putting the Previous Ques- 
tion. Probably the clearest and most con- 
cise form is as follows : '' The Previous 
Question is moved. Those in favor of now 
closing the debate will rise and stand to be 
counted. — Be seated. — Those opposed will 
rise." This form precisely expresses what 
is voted upon, while other forms do not. 



48 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The result of the vote may be announced 
as, ''The ayes have it, and debate is closed" ; 
or, '^ The noes have it, and debate will con- 
tinue." 

To Postpone to a Certain 
Day ox* Time of the Day. 

R S. D. A. R. 

This motion may be made with the object 
of giving the members time to inform them- 
selves, or because a certain learned man 
can then be present, or because the subject 
requires more time than is at hand, or for 
other reasons. 

Business cannot be postponed beyond 
the end of the session, except in conven- 
tions whose special rules permit it to come 
up with unfinished business during the next 
session. In Congress a motion cannot be 
postponed to the next session. 

A measure can be postponed only to a 
time when it can be brought before the as- 
sembly. A motion to postpone to an im- 
possible time would be equivalent to a mo- 
tion to postpone indefinitely, and should be 
so presented. 

The day and the hour should be fixed by 
the motion. The mover may say, " I move 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 49 

to postpone this question to next Tuesday 
at three o'clock." This having been sec- 
onded, stated, and subjected to debate, if 
no amendment of time were made, the Chair 
would put it to vote by saying, '' The ques- 
tion is upon postponing this question to 
next Tuesday at three o'clock. Those in 
favor of this will say aye. Those opposed 
will say 710^ The result of the vote would 
•then be announced, the Chair saying, '' The 
ayes have it, and the question is postponed 
to next Tuesday at three o'clock"; or, 
" The noes have it, and the question is still 
before the assembly." 

This motion allows limited debate on 
the propriety of postponement, but no de- 
bate on the merits of the main question. It 
can be amended only as to time. 

If it is desired to hold an adjourned 
meeting to consider a special subject, the 
time to which the assembly shall adjourn 
should be fixed before making the motion 
to postpone to that day. 

This motion can be made when a motion 
to amend is pending, being of higher rank. 
It is of equal rank with the motion for the 
previous question, to commit, and to post- 
pone indefinitely, and consequently none of 



50 PARLIAME3NTARY PROCEDURE. 

them is in order when this motion is pend- 
ing ; neither can this motion be made when 
either of the other three is pending. 

The effect of the motion if carried is to 
postpone the entire subject with all pending 
amendments to the time specified. Before 
the time arrives it may be taken up by no 
less than a two-thirds vote, and a unani- 
mous vote might well be required. To per- 
mit it to be taken up by a lesser number 
obliges a faction to be always on guard 
over it, lest in their absence it be taken up 
and acted upon by the opposing party. 

Order of the Day. 

I. R. 

When the specified time arrives, the post- 
poned question is entitled to be taken up in 
preference to any other business. It is re- 
ferred to as the order of the day, and can 
be called up on the suggestion of any mem- 
ber, or the Chair may lay it before the as- 
sembly. When the time fixed by the or- 
der of the day is reached, a speaker may be 
interrupted by the call. Any member may 
rise, address the Chair, and say, " I call for 
the order of the day." The Chair may at 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 5 I 

once bring forward the order of the day, or 
may put the call to vote, saying, " Shall 
the order of the day be now taken up "; or, 
" Will the assembly now proceed to the or- 
ders of the day," and the question is de- 
cided by a majority vote. 

Or it may be that when the Chair brings 
forward the order, or orders, of the day, 
the assembly prefers to go on with the busi- 
ness already before it. In that case any 
member may rise, address the Chair, and 
say, *' I raise the question of present con- 
sideration against the order of the day"; 
and if present consideration be decided 
against, the business previously pending 
can go on. If there were several orders, 
the question of present consideration would 
have to be raised against each order of the 
day in succession. 

An affirmative vote, on taking up the or- 
der of the day, removes the question pre- 
viously under consideration from before the 
assembly, as though it had been inter- 
rupted by an adjournment. 

A negative vote dispenses with the or- 
ders of the day only so far as they inter- 
fere with the question then being consid- 
ered. 



52 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The call for the order of the day cannot 
be renewed until the question then being 
considered is disposed of. 

A motion to take up a question out of 
its proper order cannot be amended nor 
debated, and requires a two-thirds vote, 
being the suspension of a rule. I 

When several questions have been or- 
dered for the day, each question can be laid 
on the table as it comes up, and thus a par- 
ticular question can be quickly reached. 

When several questions are postponed 
to different times and are not reached, they 
must be considered in the order of the times 
to which they were assigned. The ques- 
tions would have priority in the order of 
their assignment. But the business fixed 
for a certain hour has at that hour preced- 
ence over pending business, even though 
that business be an order of the day. 

A call for orders of the day takes pre- 
cedence of everything except privileged 
questions and the motion to reconsider. 

A subject may be made a special order 
by a two-thirds vote, the two-thirds vote 
being required because the special order is 
in the nature of a suspension of the rules. 
When the special order arrives, it takes 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 53 

precedence of all business except the read- 
ing of the minutes. If two special orders 
are made for the same day, the one first 
made takes precedence. Special orders 
outrank general orders. 

Though a two-thirds vote is required for 
making a special order, that vote can be 
reconsidered on a majority vote for recon- 
sideration. 

To Commit, Recommit, or 
Refer. 

F. S. D. A. R. 

A committee consists of a selected num- 
ber of members appointed to perform cer- 
tain work. The object of the motion to 
refer to a committee, or to recommit to the 
same committee, is to expedite business, to 
furnish opportunity for special investiga- 
tion by certain members, or to obtain ex- 
pert judgment. When a motion or report 
is not well digested, and requires many 
amendments, much time is saved to the as- 
sembly by referring it to a committee for 
revision. 

The great value of committees has led 
many assemblies to perform nearly all their 



54 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

work in committee rooms. This plan frees 
special branches of business from the in- 
convenience of numbers, and tends to pre- 
serve the assembly from being too greatly 
influenced by plausible harangues. 

The committee is the creature of the as- 
sembly and can in no case exceed the in- 
structions received from the assembly. If 
the assembly directs the time and place of 
meeting and the meeting be not held, new 
instructions must be received before the 
committee can act. 

The Chair is always instructed by the 
assembly as to the manner of forming the 
committee and as to the number of which 
it shall consist. 

Whatever the method of forming the 
committee the member first named acts as 
temporary chairman and a permanent chair- 
man is immediately elected by the commit- 
tee itself, unless the chairman has been de- 
signated by the assembly, or unless the rule 
of the society requires the appointment of 
the chairman by the President. 

The motion to commit is debatable and 
may be amended as to the number in the 
committee, the manner of its formation, and 
the instruction given. It is carried by a ma- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 55 

jority vote, which can be reconsidered, but 
not after the committee has acted. 

The motion to commit may be made 
while amendments are pending and if car- 
ried the amendments go with the principal 
motion to the committee. 

The Previous Question may be applied 
to this motion and so may the motion to 
amend but no other subsidiary motion ap- 
plies to it. It is itself applicable to nothing 
other than the main question. 

There are Five Kinds of 
Oommittees. 

1. Special Committees are appointed for 
a particular occasion. They are dissolved 
by the act of reporting or by the accom- 
plishment of their work. 

2. Standing Committees are created by 
the rules of the assembly and are usually 
appointed for the term of one year or for 
the session. The rules regulate the method 
of election or appointment of all standing 
committees. A standing committee after 
a full report has no further control of the 
matter reported, unless there be a new 
reference. 



56 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

3. Joint Committees are made up of | 
members of two branches of a legislature 
or convocation and may be either special 
or standing. They perform certain work 
in which the two branches have a mutual 
interest. 

4. A Conference Committee is a commit- 
tee appointed by one branch of a legislature 
or convocation to meet a similar committee 
appointed by another branch of a legislature 
or convocation when the two bodies have 
disagreed. At the conference, there is 
examination and discussion of the points of 
difference and an effort to reach an agree- 
ment. Each conference committee is com- 
posed of an odd number, and the majority 
in each should represent the majority of the 
appointing body. To constitute an agree- 
ment authorizing a report to the two bodies, 
a majority of each constituent committee 
must assent. The report when ready is 
privileged over other business. 

5. A Committee of the Whole is the as- 
sembly itself in another form, since the 
membership is identical, and the same 
number is required for a quorum. It has 
another presiding officer named by the 
Chair, or elected by the assembly in case 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 5J^ 

of dispute concerning the selection made 
by the Chair. 

The presiding officer of the assembly 
may take part in the debate. The clerk of 
the assembly acts as clerk of this commit- 
tee, but keeps no record of its proceedings 
except such temporary memoranda as will 
enable him to assist the chairman in the 
orderly conduct of business. The report 
which the committee makes to the assembly 
is its record, and becomes part of the record 
of the assembly. 

In Committee of the Whole each mem- 
ber may debate as often as he can get the 
floor ; otherwise the rules are the same as 
for the assembly. But the Committee of 
the Whole cannot adjourn, cannot lay on 
the table, cannot move the Previous Ques- 
tion, cannot postpone, and cannot refer to 
another committee. The only motions in 
order are to amend, to adopt, and that the 
committee rise and report. The only way 
to limit debate in Committee of the Whole, 
whether in regard to the time allowed to 
each speaker, or the time that the commit- 
tee shall have for debate, is by the order of 
the assembly. The Committee of the Whole 
does its work as does any other committee 



58 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

and reports to the assembly through its 
chairman. 

In Committee of the Whole the yeas and 
nays cannot be called, and therefore the 
original purpose of the committee is sub- 
served and the doings of its members 
escape the notice of the public. 

The Committee has no power to punish for 
disorder. Any disorderly behavior should 
be reported to the assembly for its action. 

Instead of going into Committee of the 
Whole it is sometimes better to move that 
the question be considered informally. 
While acting informally each member can 
speak as often as he can get the floor and 
if that be the desired object it is more easily 
attained by the latter motion. In assem- 
blies not legislative it is rarely worth while 
to go into Committee of the Whole. 

The form for the motion is " I move that 
this assembly now resolve itself into a Com- 
mittee of the Whole to consider the ques- 
tion of " 

There Are Four "Ways of 
Forming Committees. 

I . By Appointment by the Chair. This is 
a speedy way of creating a committee and 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 59 

is suitable when the Chair is thoroughly 
acquainted with the members and when 
there is no fear of placing too great power 
in the hands of the Chair. 

The form of this motion is, ** I move that 
this question be referred to a committee 
of appointed by the Chair." 

2. By Resolution subject to amendment^ the 
resolution naming the members. 

The form of this motion is, "I move to 
refer this question to a committee consist- 
ing of Mr. — , Mr. — , and Mrs. — " This 
might be amended by the insertion of 
other names, or by striking out and insert- 
ing names. 

3. By Nomination front the Floor and 
vote, when all have been nominated. In 
nomination from the floor, no member has 
the right to nominate more than one per- 
son. All nominations must be seconded. 
Nominations continue until closed by gen- 
eral consent, or by majority vote. When 
the nominations are closed, the Chair puts 
the names to vote in the order in which 
they were proposed, and when the number 
mentioned by the motion have been elected, 
no more names are voted upon. The form 
of this motion is : "I move that this ques- 



6o PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

tion be referred to a committee of- 



nominated from the floor and elected by- 
acclamation." 

4. By Ballot, which is taken separately 
for each member, or by a single ballot for 
the whole committee. This method takes 
much time, and is therefore seldom called 
for, but is useful in the choice of important 
committees. The form of the motion is, 
" I move to refer the question to a com- 
mittee of elected by ballot," and 

instruction as to the method of nominating 
may be inserted. 

Committees and Their 
Work. 

Members of Committee should represent 
different views if for deliberation, similar 
views if for action. Large committees are 
usually best for deliberation, small ones for 
action. 

A committee should consist of an odd 
number, so that a majority vote may be 
easily secured. A committee may be given 
power to add to its own number, or a 
Chairman of Committee may be empowered 
to create the committee. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 6 1 

A committee does not adjourn at the close 
of a meeting ; the committee rises. The 
proper form for the motion is, "I move 
that this committe do now rise." 

A committee cannot act by separate as- 
sent, but must meet in conference. If 
all members have been notified of the meet- 
ing, a majority is sufficient for the transac- 
tion of business. 

Sub-committees may be appointed from 
among the members of a committee, to re- 
port to the committee in the same manner 
as the committee reports to the assembly. 

It is customary to appoint the mover and 
seconder upon the committee, but this is 
not obligatory. Fitness is the sole qualifi- 
cation demanded, and the mover may be 
less fit than some other member. 

Unless the committee otherwise directs, 
its meetings are open to other members. 

The President is not a member of any 
committee unless made so by the rule of 
the assembly, or by special appointment. 

The number in the committee, and the 
kind of committee, need not be decided 
upon until after it has been voted to refer 
the subject to a committee, though time is 
usually saved by including in the motion to 



62 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

commit, the number in the committee, the 
manner in which the committee shall be 
formed, and the tirne when it shall report. 
In case of need, the Chair inquires how the 
committee shall be formed and of how 
many it shall consist. 

Members who are absent, or who cannot 
be consulted, should not be nominated or 
appointed to a committee ; and members 
who cannot serve should decline when nomi- 
nated, or immediately upon appointment. 

The motion to commit may be thwarted 
by being amended so as to refer to a Com- 
mittee of the Whole. 

When different committees are proposed 
for reference, they should be voted upon in 
the following order: ist, Committee of 
the Whole ; 2d, Standing Committee ; 3d, 
Special Committee. 

At the first meeting of a committee it 
elects its Chairman and Secretary, unless 
the assembly has already designated these 
officers. Its work is to carry out the in- 
struction of the assembly, with whatever 
power has been conferred upon it. 

The Chairman of the committee calls the 
meetings of the committee, unless the time 
and place of meeting has been dictated by 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 63 

the assembly. The Chairman presides at 
the committee meetings, and, unless the 
committee orders otherwise, makes all re- 
ports to the assembly. 

The Secretary of the committee notifies 
its members of meetings, keeps minutes of 
each meeting, has custody of all papers 
sent to the committee, and transmits all 
papers to the clerk of the assembly when 
the committee ceases to have them in charge. 
The minutes kept are for the use of the 
committee alone. 

No allusion should be made in the assem- 
bly to what has occurred in committee, 
except it be by report of the committee, or 
by general consent of the committee. 

Procedure in committee is the same as in 
the assembly. The majority of the mem- 
bers determine the report. But in com- 
mittee meetings questions are usually de- 
bated informally, and in small committees 
members do not rise when addressing the 
chairman, nor when seconding motions. 
No limit is placed on debate, unless by 
order of the assembly. 

When a paper is referred to a cornmittee 
the committee should not interline, disfigure, 
nor tear it in any manner ; but must set 



64 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

down on a separate paper the amendments 
agreed upon by the committee, stating what 
they are and where they have been made. 

When a paper is referred to a committee, 
the paper is first read through to the com- 
mittee, and is then read by paragraphs. 
At the close of each paragraph the chair- 
man asks if there are any amendments, and 
puts to vote the amendments proposed, but 
does not call for a vote on the whole paper. 
A committee cannot reject a paper, but 
must report it back either affirmatively or 
negatively. 

The report of a committee must be signed 
by all members who concur in the report. 

By consent of the assembly a minority 
report may be received by it. 

If a report be in writing, a copy should 
be laid upon the clerk's desk, and a copy 
should be held by the chairman of the com- 
mittee. 

The work of the committee must be re- 
ported to and revised by the assembly. 
The action of the committee is advisory 
only. The committee has no more power 
than is conferred upon it by the assembly, 
and may exercise only the functions which 
the assembly delegates to it. The assem- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 6$ 

bly may amend, modify, accept, or reject 
all, or any part, of the work of the com- 
mittee. 

The committee, when ready to report, 
says, '' Your committee is now ready to re- 
port." The report is for immediate action, 
unless the rules prescribe otherwise. The 
Chair may say, *' If there be no objection 
the report will now be received." 

Any member may raise the question of 
immediate consideration of a report de- 
manding that the question be put upon the 
reception of the report. The Chair says, 
'' The question is upon the immediate re- 
ception of the report." If negatived the 
committee must wait until a more favorable 
season. 

When a subject has been referred to a 
committee that reports at the same meet- 
ing, the subject stands before the assembly 
as if introduced for the first time. 

The report of a committee is received 
when it is read. Hearing the report is re- 
ceiving it. If the report be at all lengthy 
some member should, after it has been 
read by the chairman of the committee, 
move that the report be considered seriatim, 
that is, section by section, or paragraph by 



66 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

paragraph. This motion being seconded, 
put to vote, and carried, the clerk reads the 
report, a paragraph or section at a time, and 
each section may in its order be debated 
and amended ; but no vote should be taken 
upon the separate paragraphs. 

After seriatim consideration, in which all 
amendments offered are voted upon in their 
order, some member moves that the 
amended report be adopted, or accepted, 
and after debate the vote is taken upon the 
report as a whole. 

The preamble, if there be one, should be 
considered last and should be separately- 
voted upon. Seriatim consideration affords 
two opportunities of discussing the report, 
once under the consideration given to it 
section by section, and once under the mo- 
tion to adopt the report. 

The member presenting the report is first 
entitled to the floor in debate, and has also 
the right to close the debate, even after the 
Previous Question is ordered. 

A report given simply for information 
should not be adopted. To accept or 
adopt, endorses the report and commits 
the assembly to the statements included in 
the report. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 67 

No committee is discharged after com- 
pleting its work. When its work is done, 
its existence ceases. A committee which 
does not perform its work may be dis- 
charged and a new committee appointed. 

To Postpone Indefinitely. 

F. S. D. R. 

After a question has been debated there 
are two ways of suppressing it, one by vot- 
ing it down, the other by an indefinite post- 
ponement. Both have the same effect. 
An affirmative vote on the motion to post- 
pone indefinitely has the same effect as has 
a negative vote on the main question. 
The motion is used by the opponents of a 
measure when doubtful of their own 
strength, because if defeated on this motion 
they still have opportunity for a further 
struggle for victory, which would not be 
the case if they were defeated in the vote 
upon the main question. 

If this motion is decided in the affirma- 
tive, the main question, with what adheres 
thereto, is entirely removed from before the 
assembly for that session ; if decided in the 



68 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

negative, the debate proceeds as if this mo- 
tion had not been made. 

This motion ranks with the motion to 
postpone to a certain time, to commit, and 
to close debate, and above the motion to 
amend. In some legislative bodies it 
ranks below the motion to amend, and 
cannot be made when an amendment is 
pending. 

No subsidiary motion, except the Pre- 
vious Question, can be applied to it, and it 
applies to nothing beside the main question. 
It cannot be amended in regard to time 
as that would make it equivalent to a motion 
to postpone to a certain day, and that has a 
different purpose. 

It is eminently debatable and opens the 
whole main question to debate. Any mo- 
tion that has the effect to suppress a ques- 
tion before an assembly so that it cannot 
again be taken up during the session allows 
free debate ; and any subsidiary motion is 
debatable to just the extent that it inter- 
feres with the right of the assembly to take 
up the original question at its pleasure. 
For instance, on a motion for indefinite 
postponement the whole question is open 
to debate, because an affirmative vote will 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 69 

remove it permanently from the assembly. 
In a motion for postponement to a certain 
day, debate is limited to the question of 
postponement, because there will be further 
opportunity to debate the main question at 
the time set. On a motion to commit, 
debate is permitted, because it is important 
that the committee should be formed and 
instructed by the assembly ; but debate is 
limited to the motion to commit, because 
future occasion is provided for debate on 
the main question at the report of the com- 
mittee. A motion to lay on the table is 
undebatable, because the question can at 
any time be taken up and debated. 

It thus appears that the amount of per- 
missible debate is determined by the degree 
of danger which the subsidiary motion 
presents to the main question ; the subsi- 
diary motion which, if carried, would kill 
the measure, permits unlimited debate on 
the main question itself, while the subsidiary 
motion which offers no harm to the main 
question is wholly undebatable. 

The enemies of a measure sometimes 
move indefinite postponement in order to 
ascertain, through the opposing vote, how 
numerous the friends of the measure may 



yO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

be. They are then better prepared to adopt 
tactics that may overthrow their opponents, 
or they may discreetly adjust their forces 
on the popular side. 

The enemy of the proposition may say, 
" I move the indefinite postponement of this 
question." 

In announcing the result of the vote the 
Chair says, " The ayes have it, and the 
question is indefinitely postponed," or else 
says, " The noes have it, and the question 
is before the assembly for further debate." 

To Amend. ^ 

F. S. D. A. R. ' 

Every assembly has an indisputable right 
to alter or modify any proposition laid 
before it. The purpose of amendment is 
to change the proposition so that it will 
more perfectly express the mind of the 
majority. 

An amendment may be made which 
changes the meaning of a proposition, but 
none can be made which changes the sub- 
ject. The censure of an individual may 
be changed to an expression of thanks or 
words may be inserted which will secure 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 7 1 

the defeat of a proposition by making it 
absurd. 

When a proposition is not well expressed 
or clearly put it is usually better to refer it 
to a committee who may write it out in 
better form. Motions should be well di- 
gested and clearly written out before they 
are placed before an assembly. 

The effect of an amendment is always to 
modify or change the main question. 

An amendment made by inserting or by 
striking out the word not is not permissible, 
as the end would be reached as well by the 
vote alone. 

There are three ways of amending a mo- 
tion, resolution, bill, or report. 

I St. By striking out words. The form is 

**I move to strike out ." Words that 

have been stricken out cannot be again in- 
serted except it be in connection with other 
words that change the meaning of the 
proposition. 

2d. By inserting words. The form is 
** I move to insert — ." Words that have 
been inserted cannot be stricken out, un- 
less other words are at the same time 
stricken out so that there is a change of 
meaning. 



^2 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

3d. By Striking out and inserting. The 
motion to strike out and insert is indivisible. 
But the words proposed to be inserted need 
not be inserted in the same place as the 
words stricken out. 

Two mnendments to different parts of the 
propositio7i camtot be pending at the same 
time ; but any number of amendments may- 
be made one by one. Other amendments 
than the one to the original proposition 
must be confined to that one, and the ori- 
ginal amendment must be disposed of be- 
fore another amendment to the proposition 
is entertained. 

To Amesid an Amendment. 

F. S. D. R. 

An amendment may itself be amended, and 
the second amendment may be debated, 
but cannot be amended. Any number of 
amendments may be made, one at a time, 
to an amendment. The amendment to the 
amendment is treated in the same way as is 
the amendment to the original proposition : 
it may be amended by striking out, by in- 
serting, or by striking out and inserting. 

When there is an amendment to an 
amendment, the amendment to the amend- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 73 

ment is first voted upon, and afterward the 
amendment as amended is voted upon, and 
lastly, after all amendment is completed, 
the proposition as amended is put to vote. 

When an amendment by striking out is 
proposed, and an amendment by striking 
out is offered as an amendment to that 
amendment, the intention of the mover of 
the amendment to the amendment is to 
strike out from the original motion less 
than the proposed amendment would take 
out. For instance if the amendment pro- 
poses to strike out from the proposition A- 
B-C-D-E-F t h e letters B C-D, and 
an amendment to this amendment proposes 
to strike out in the amendment the letters 
B-C, then if the amendment to the amend- 
ment is agreed to, B-C is stricken out of 
the amendment, and D alone remains in the 
amendment. If this amendment be agreed 
to, then the amended proposition would be 
A-B-C-E-F. 

When an amendment by striking out is 
proposed, and an amendment by insertion 
is offered as an amendment to the amend- 
ment, the intention of the mover of the 
amendment to the amendment is to strike 
out from the original motion more than the 



74 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

offered amendment would remove. For 
instance if from the proposition A-B-C-D- 
E-F it is proposed to strike out B-C-D 
and an amendment to this amendment pro- 
poses to insert E-F, then if the amendment 
to the amendment be agreed to, the amend- 
ment would propose to strike out B-C-D- 
E-F, and if this amendment were adopted, 
only A would remain from the original mo- 
tion. When anything is inserted in an 
amendment to be made by striking out, that 
which is inserted is always taken from the 
principal motion. 

An amendment made by striking out and 
inserting in an amendment made by striking 
out, restores to the original motion some- 
thing which the amendment proposed to 
remove, and takes from the original motion 
something which the amendment would 
have left therein. For instance, if the 
amendment proposes to strike out B-C-D 
from the proposition A-B-C-D-E-F, and 
the amendment to the amendment proposes 
to strike out B and insert E, agreement to 
the amendment to the amendment would 
leave the amendment ''to strike out C-D- 
E," and if this were agreed to, the principal 
motion would then stand as A-B-F. In 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^5 

this case, what is stricken out from the 
amendment goes back to the principal mo- 
tion, and what is inserted in the amend- 
ment disappears from the principal motion. 

If the main question were A-B-C-D-E- 
F, and an amendment proposed to insert G, 
an amendmentto the amendment, proposing 
to strike out G and insert M would not be in 
order, because that is a proposal to destroy 
the whole of the offered amendment. The 
advocate of M should debate against G, 
urging the superiority of M, and when G was 
rejected, move a new amendment '' to insert 
M." 

When the amendment proposed is ^^ by 
inserting'' alone, that which is inserted 
comes always from outside the main ques- 
tion. To strike out in an amendment by in- 
serting, is to insert less. If the main ques- 
tion were A-B-C, and the amendment 
called for the insertion of E-F-G, and the 
amendment were amended by striking out 
F-G, the amended motion would be A-B- 
C-E. 

If the principal motion were A-B-C-D- 
E-F, and an amendment proposed to strike 
out D-E-F and to insert G-H, and this 
amendment were amended by striking out 



76 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

D and amended again by inserting I, the 
amended motion would be A-B-C-D-G-H-L 

When it is proposed to amend by strik- 
ing out certain words and inserting other 
words in either portion of the proposed 
amendment, the portion proposed for strik- 
ing out, or the portion proposed for insert- 
ing, may be amended by striking out, by 
inserting, or by striking out and inserting. 

In the proposition A-B-C-D-E-F it is 
proposed to strike out A-B-C-D and to 
insert X-Y-Z. The portion A-B-C-D is 
amended by striking out A and inserting 
E. Then the portion X-Y-Z is amended 
by striking out X and inserting W. Then 
this portion is further amended by striking 
out Z. Then the first portion is further 
amended by striking out C. The amended 
amendment being agreed to, the main ques- 
tion stands A-C-F-W-Y. 



A proposition may be rejected after 
amendment. Those who are opposed to 
the proposition would better debate and 
vote on the offered amendments, if there be 
a probability that the principal motion may 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^J 

be carried. The objectionable features of 
an objectionable measure may thus be re- 
duced to the smallest possible dimensions. 

The motion to amend is of lowest rank, 
and gives way to all other motions. When 
pending, however, it is not cut off from final 
consideration by any other motion. A mo- 
tion to commit, if adopted, sends pending 
amendments as well as the main question 
to the committee ; a motion to lay on the 
table, or to postpone, if agreed to, carries 
all pending amendments with the main 
question. The Previous Question, if or- 
dered to the main question, requires pend- 
ing amendments to be first voted upon. 

No undebatable motion can be amended 
except the privileged motion to fix the 
time to which to adjourn, which can be 
amended only as to time ; the motions re- 
lating to method of consideration, which 
can be amended only as to method; and the 
motion to divide the question, which can be 
amended only as to place of division. 

Among the subsidiary motions, the mo- 
tion to amend can be applied only to the 
motion to postpone to a certain day, which 
can be amended only as to time ; to the 
motion to commit, which can be amended 



yS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

as to the number of members in the 
committee, the mode of forming the com- 
mittee, or the instructions given the com- 
mittee ; and to itself, in so far as a first 
amendment can be itself amended. 

None of the other subsidiary motions, 
except the Previous Question, can be ap- 
plied solely to the motion to amend. Any 
other subsidiary motion, applied when an 
amendment is pending, applies to the main 
question as well as to the amendment. 

If the Previous Question is adopted, it 
bears on the principal motion and on all 
pending amendments, unless otherwise 
specified by the mover at the time of intro- 
ducing it. 

A member may move to amend his own 
motion. 

After the question has been stated, the 
mover may accept an amendment, if there 
be no objection ; but if objection is made, a 
majority vote is required. 

When an amendment has been moved 
and seconded, the Chair should always 
state the question distinctly, so that every 
member may know exactly what is before 
the assembly. The Chair should, if neces- 
sary, first read the paragraph which it is 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^9 

proposed to amend, then the words which 
are to be struck out or inserted, and finally 
the paragraph as it will stand if the amend- 
ment is adopted. He then states that *'the 
question is on the adoption of the amend- 
ment." This is open to debate, the remarks 
being confined to the merits of the amend- 
ment. After the debate the Chair says, 
** Will the assembly agree to the amend- 
ment ? Those agreeing will say aye. Those 
opposed will say no.'" The result of the 
vote is announced by saying : *^ The ayes 
have it, and the amendment is agreed to " ; 
or, '' The noes have it, and the amendment 
is not agreed to." 



A short and informal method of striking 
out and inserting, may be applied to whole 
paragraphs or bills. The mover says, *'For 
the paragraph under consideration I offer 
the following substitute," and reads a new 
paragraph as a substitute for the old. The 
friends of the old paragraph have a right to 
perfect it by amendment before the vote is 
put for the adoption of the substitute, and 
the friends of the new paragraph have the 



80 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

same privilege in regard to the offered sub- 
stitute. After the friends of the old para- 
graph have completed their work, and the 
friends of the new paragraph have perfected 
theirs, both parties having the assistance of 
the whole assembly, the question of the ac- 
ceptance of the substitute is put to vote, and 
if the substitute be accepted, the old para- 
graph is stricken out and the new one is in- 
serted. 

It is manifest that if the assembly were 
obliged to accept or reject the substitute 
immediately, it would have to choose be- 
tween two paragraphs, neither of which 
might be fully acceptable. One of the two 
paragraphs would be irrevocably out and 
the other would be unalterably in. By 
giving opportunity to perfect each by 
amendment before making a final choice 
between them, one of them can usually be 
made to express the will of the majority. 

But if the assembly approves neither 
the substitute nor the original paragraph, 
it rejects the substitute and then strikes 
out the original paragraph. 

The method of amendment by substitu- 
tion is much used in legislative assemblies. 
After the bill has been perfected by amend- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8 I 

ments, a member moves to strike out all 
after the enacting clause, and to substitute 
another bill, on the same subject. If the 
enacting clause be stricken out, the result 
is the defeat of the bill, for the result of the 
amendment is to deprive the bill of that 
which makes it a law. 

Filling of Blanks. 

Sometimes a measure is presented to an 
assembly with blanks to be filled by dates 
or amounts. Propositions are made and 
seconded for the filling of these blanks, and 
these propositions are not treated as amend- 
ments, but when all have been made they 
are marshalled by the clerk or secretary in 
such order that the largest sum or the 
longest time is first put to vote, and then if 
this proposal be rejected, the next largest 
sum or next longest time is put to vote, and 
so on until the blank is filled. There may 
be debate before each vote. 

When a blank is to be filled by a name, 
the clerk or secretary records the names 
in the order in which they are proposed. 
The Chair then reads all the names and 
puts them to vote, one by one, in the order 



82 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE; 

in which they are recorded, until a choice 
is made by a majority vote of the assembly. 

For instance, Mr. A. may move *'that 

the name of this Club be changed to ." 

When the motion has been seconded and 
stated, the Chair calls for names to fill the 
blank. Those who propose names rise and 
address the Chair, but are not individually 
named because the floor has already been giv- 
en to the assembly for the purpose indicated. 
No member may propose more than one 
name, and each proposal should be seconded, 
stated by the Chair, and recorded by the sec- 
retary. When proposals cease, or are 
closed by vote, debate may be had upon 
each name before the vote upon it is taken. 

By the filling of a blank, a satisfactory re- 
sult is often reached more quickly than 
would be possible by amendments. There 
is also fuller opportunity for the expression 
of the sentiments of the members, and the 
process is less complicated. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8$ 

Recapitulation of Rank in 



1— Question of Consideration, I. |. R. 
2— To lay on the table, F. S. R- ?. 

'The Previous Question, F. S. f. E. 
3 J J° postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
To commit, recommit or refer, F. S. D A R 

L To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R. 
4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R. 

The seven subsidiary motions have in 
their relation to each other a respective 
rank, the question of consideration being 
highest, and the motion to lay on the table 
coming next it. Then there are four of 
the same rank, the Previous Question, post- 
ponement to a certain time, reference to a 
committee, and indefinite postponement, 
all being of the third rank. The lowest in 
rank is the motion to amend. 

We will give titles to these seven mo- 
tions, and call the question of considera- 
tion the Queen; the motion to lay on the 
table the Princess ; the four motions— to 
close debate, to postpone to a certain time, 
to refer to a committee, and to postpone 
indefinitely— all Dutchesses ; and the mo- 
tion to amend will be the Countess. If the 
Queen is about to enter a room, or signi- 



84 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

fies her intention of so doing, no lady of 
lower rank should attempt to pass before 
her. So, if the question of consideration is 
raised, no question of lower rank is in or- 
der until the question of consideration shall 
have been disposed of If one of the 
Dutchesses were entering a room, she 
would yield the way to the Queen or the 
Princess ; but no other Dutchess should 
try to precede her. So any of the ques- 
tions of the third rank yield to the two of 
higher rank ; while among themselves the 
first moved must be disposed of before any 
of the other three is in order. The Countess 
being of the lowest rank, would yield the 
way to any or all of the other six ladies. 
So the motion to amend yields precedence 
to any of the six motions having higher 
rank than itself 

The general rule is that motions of lower 
rank yield to those of higher rank, and that 
those having higher rank at once super- 
sede those of lower rank, while among 
those of the same rank, the one first raised 
must be voted upon before another should 
be moved. To this general rule there are 
no exceptions among the subsidiary mo- 
tions in their relation to each other. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 85 

Any motion that is in order when made, 
unless superseded by a motion of higher 
rank, must sooner or later be stated by the 
Chair and receive the attention of the as- 
sembly, but a motion not in order when 
made has to be renewed if it be considered 
at all. 

If Mrs. A. moves to amend, and is sec- 
onded, and Mrs. B. moves to postpone to a 
certain time and is seconded, and Mrs. C. 
moves to lay on the table and is seconded, 
the Chair first states the motion to lay on 
the table, because it is of highest rank. If 
the vote upon it be negative, the Chair then 
states the motion to postpone, and if this 
be negatively decided, the Chair next states 
the motion to amend. 

If Mrs. E. then moves to postpone in- 
definitely and is seconded, and Mrs. F. 
raises the question of consideration, the 
Chair would pronounce Mrs. F.'s motion 
out of order, because of subsidiary motions 
having already been applied to the main 
question, would state the motion for in- 
definite postponement, and if this motion 
were negatively settled, would call for de- 
bate on the offered amendment. 



S6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Privileg'ed Questions. 

Privii<eged Motions: 

1— To fix a time to which to adjourn, S. A. R. 

2 — To adjourn, S. 

3 — To take the recess, S. 

Questions of Privii^ege: 

4 — Concerning the assembly, I. — (F. S. D, A. R.) 
5 — Concerning a member, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.) 

Privileged Questions do not concern them- 
selves with the progress of the main ques- 
tion, but with the existence of the assem- 
bly, the performance of its functions and its 
general well-being. Their only immediate 
relation to the main question is that of de- 
laying it by taking up the time. Yet these 
questions, which do not concern the im- 
mediate business of the assembly, have 
precedence over the main question and 
over most subsidiary and incidental ques- 
tions pertaining to it. 

The essential characteristic of privileged 
questions is that they interrupt the business 
before the assembly. If such a question 
were introduced when no business was 
before the house, it would be, not a privi- 
leged, but a main question, and would be 
so treated. They are termed privileged 
because they may interrupt business. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8/ 

Privileged Motions. 

Three of these privileged questions are 
called Privileged Motions, because the 
mover, when introducing them, begins 
with the words " / move^ These motions 
cannot interrupt a member who has the 
floor; but they are introduced without 
getting the floor. They require a seconder. 
None of them can be debated, because high 
privilege is inconsistent with debate. 

1— To Fix the Time to which 
to Adjourn. 

S. A. R. 

This motion has the right to interrupt 
business only when no time for the next 
meeting has been fixed. The purpose and 
effect of the motion is to fix the time for 
the next meeting. This is often necessary 
to the interest of the business before the 
assembly, because committees may need 
to be appointed with instruction when to 
report, or questions may require postpone- 
ment to a later period. 

Moreover, when an assembly adjourns 
with no time fixed for its next meeting, 
such adjournment is equivalent to a dis- 



S8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

solution. In fact, to adjourn sine die, with- 
out day, is to dissolve the assembly. 

This motion is among all motions the 
highest in rank, because of its function in 
preserving the existence of the assembly 
as such. It may be made even after the 
vote has been taken on the motion to 
adjourn, provided that the vote has not 
yet been announced by the Chair. 

The proper form of the motion is, ** I 
move that when we adjourn, we adjourn 
to meet" — Thursday, October 19th, at 
two o'clock. 

It is usually better to introduce the 
motion fixing the time of the next meeting, 
not as a privileged motion, when it cannot 
be debated, but as a main question open to 
debate. 

As a privileged motion this motion can 
be amended only as to time. 

The vote on the motion fixing the time 
of the next meeting can be reconsidered. 

This motion takes precedence over the 
motion to adjourn, but has no priority over 
a motion for recess, if the motion for 
recess is already pending. 

The motion may be legally decided when 
less than a quorum is present. 



PARLIAMENtARY PROCEDURE. Bg 

2— To Adjourn. 

S. 

To adjourn implies an intermission of 
business, the date for the next meeting 
having been fixed. To adjourn with no 
time fixed for the next meeting is to dis- 
solve the assembly, and the Chair should 
not entertain the motion as a privileged 
one. A motion to dissolve the assembly- 
would not be privileged, and would be 
debatable. The meaning, the effective 
significance, of a motion must always be 
considered, rather than its mere wording. 
When a motion is not properly framed, 
the Chair may so state it as to properly 
classify it under one of the established 
headings. If a member moves " to adjourn 
till next Monday, at one o'clock," the 
Chair may state the motion in its proper 
form, "that when we adjourn we adjourn 
to meet next Monday at one o'clock." 
After this motion is disposed of the motion 
to adjourn might be in order. 

An adjourned meeting is a legal conti- 
nuation of a former one. The same busi- 
ness is taken up according to the orders of 
the day, or the order of business. 



90 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

No subsidiary motion can be applied 
to this motion if it be privileged. It is 
decided by a majority of the members 
present, and does not require a quorum 
for its decision. 

There is an old parliamentary saying, 
" The motion to adjourn is always in 
order." This good rule is true with some 
exceptions ; it is not in order to move to 
adjourn when a speaker has the floor, 
nor when the Question of Consideration 
or the Previous Question is pending, nor 
when a vote is being taken. This motion 
may, however, be made between the 
taking of the vote and the announcing of 
the result. Much time is often consumed 
in the counting of ballots after a vote, and 
it is therefore most convenient to adjourn 
the meeting and announce the result of the 
vote when business is resumed at the next 
meeting. 

The motion to adjourn may also be made 
after the Previous Question is ordered and 
before the main question is put to vote. 
The delay in voting on the main question 
may furnish opportunity for its private 
discussion, and it can be voted upon at the 
next meeting. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 9 1 

When the assembly adjourns with busi- 
ness undisposed of by vote, the question 
under consideration comes up at the next 
meeting as unfinished business. The ef- 
fect of adjournment is simply to suspend 
till the next meeting any question be- 
fore the assembly at the time when it 
adjourns. 

If a member yield the floor to a motion 
to adjourn, he is entitled to resume it at the 
next meeting, when the subject again 
comes before the assembly, and the same 
is true of a motion to take a recess. He 
has the right to yield for these motions, 
because they are motions affecting only 
the sittings of the body. 

The motion to adjourn gives way to no 
other except that of fixing the time to 
which to adjourn. If the motion to take 
a recess is already pending, the motion 
to adjourn has no priority over it, and 
would be out of order. 

In the House of Representatives this 
motion yields, by special rule, to a Confer- 
ence Report. 

If the motion to adjourn is qualified in 
any way, it cannot be introduced as a priv- 
ileged motion. It thereby loses its privi- 



92 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

leged character and is treated like any- 
other principal motion. For instance, *' I 
move that we do now adjourn to meet at 
the home of the President at three o'clock" 
could not be introduced as a privileged 
motion, but would be in order only when 
no business was before the assembly. 

No question of order nor any appeal 
should be entertained after the motion to 
adjourn has been made, unless the assem- 
bly refuses to adjourn. 

The motion to adjourn cannot be re- 
newed until some business has intervened; 
but the business may be only progress in 
debate. 

The form is, " I move that we do now 
adjourn." No meeting is properly ad- 
journed until the vote on adjournment is 
taken, and the result announced by the 
Chair. But when the time for adjourn- 
ment is fixed by a rule, the Chair may take 
the vote by general consent, saying, ** The 
time for adjournment having arrived, if 
there be no further business, the meeting 
stands adjourned." 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 93 

3— To take the Recess. 

S. 

A recess is a suspension of business for 
a limited time. The motion for recess is 
privileged only when the time for the re- 
cess has been fixed by a special rule, an 
order, or a by-law. 

As a privileged motion, it can be neither 
debated nor amended. It cannot be re- 
considered, but it may be renewed after 
further business has been transacted. 

The form is, " I move that the assembly 
now take its recess." 

When a recess has been ordered to begin 
at a certain time, a motion to adjourn be- 
fore that time carries the assembly to the 
next regular meeting. 

A motion for a recess not fixed by law 
or a rule can be introduced as a main ques- 
tion, and as such is debatable and amend- 
able. 

The motion might also be introduced, 
on permission, as a question of privilege. 
The time consumed in the counting of bal- 
lots, as at an annual election, may thus be 
taken for a recess, and the result of the 
vote announced when business is resumed. 



94 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

In such case the motion might be made in 
the following form : " I move that we now 
take a recess, to meet at the call of the 
Chair"; or, "I move that this assembly 
do now take a recess of ten minutes." 

Questions of Privilege. 

I._._(F. S. D. A. R.) 

They are of two sorts, those concerning 
the assembly and those concerning a mem- 
ber. The former have precedence over the 
latter, because the whole is more important 
than a part. The two sorts of questions 
receive similar treatment when once ad- 
mitted. 

Questions of privilege of the first class 
are those affecting the safety, or the dig- 
nity of the assembly, or the integrity of its 
proceedings ; while those of the second 
class affect the rights, reputation, or con- 
duct of members individually in their rep- 
resentative capacity. Examples of the first 
class are a fire in the building, telegrams 
or messages requiring immediate response, 
divulging the secrets of the society, tam- 
pering with the records, etc. Examples 
of the second class are an offer to bribe a 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 95 

member, threats used toward a member by 
a witness, a quarrel between members, etc. 

Either of the questions of privilege may 
interrupt a speaker who has the floor ; may 
be raised without getting the floor, and 
requires no seconder. 

Questions of privilege are first addressed 
to the presiding oflicer,who decides whether 
the question raised be one of privilege, 
that is, whether it has a right to interrupt 
the business before the house. As soon as 
the Chair has mentally decided the point, 
he makes a ruling, either that the question 
raised is or is not one of privilege. If the 
Chair rules that the question is not privi- 
leged, and there be no appeal from this 
ruling, then the business before the house 
proceeds. If he rules that the question is 
privileged, and this ruling is not appealed 
from, then it is for the assembly to take 
action, by motion and vote, upon the ques- 
tion of privilege. Whenever a question is 
decided to be one of privilege, that ques- 
tion supersedes the main question for the 
time being, and is first acted upon, and af- 
terward the business interrupted by it is 
resumed. A question of privilege having 
been admitted, is treated in every respect 



96 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

like a main question, and may have subsi- 
diary and incidental motions applied to it. 
Final action need not, therefore, be taken 
upon it at the time when it is raised. It 
may be laid on the table, postponed to 
another time, referred to a committee, 
postponed indefinitely or amended. It 
may be itself interrupted by a motion of 
higher rank. The vote on it can be recon- 
sidered. 

A member who desires to introduce a 
question of privilege rises, addresses the 
Chair, and says, "I rise to a question of 
privilege concerning the assembly, " or,'* I 
rise to a question of privilege concerning a 
member," or, ''I rise to a question of person- 
al privilege." The Chair responds : " State 
your question," or, ''The member will 
state the question of privilege." After state- 
ment, the Chair rules, saying, "The question 
is one of privilege," or, " The question is 
not one of privilege," meaning that it may 
or may not interrupt the business before 
the assembly. If the decision of the Chair 
is not accepted, the member who raised 
the question, or any other member, may 
rise and say, " I appeal from the decision 
of the Chair." This appeal is made to the 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 97 

assembly, and the assembly has always the 
right of reversing or of confirming the rul- 
ing of the Chair, as described under Ap- 
peal. 

The Chair may introduce a question of 
privilege. 

Questions of privilege outrank all mo- 
tions except the three privileged motions 
and the motion to reconsider. 

When a question of physical safety or of 
humanity is involved, the Chair may as- 
sume the consent of the assembly and di- 
rect immediate action. But the assump- 
tion may afterward be the subject of action 
by the assembly. 

Incidental Questions. 

1 — Questions of order, I. R. 
Reading of papers, F. S. R. 
Withdrawal of motion, F. S. R. 
Suspension of rules, F. S. f . 
Division of question, F. S. A. R. 
Method of consideration, F. S. A. R. 

Incidental questions arise out of the 
main question, subsidiary questions, or 
privileged questions. They are always 
decided, without debate, before further 
action is taken upon the question out of 
which the incidental question arose. 



98 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Incidental questions have precedence of 
other questions in the sense that they are 
decided before the question giving rise to 
them. 

With the exception of a point of order, 
which outranks all the others, they are of 
the same rank among themselves, and 
when one has arisen it must be voted upon 
before another can be put. 

These questions can be entertained only 
when immediately applicable to the ques- 
tion then under consideration, and they 
may, when applicable, interrupt the con- 
sideration of either a main, a subsidiary, or 
a privileged question. 

For all incidental questions, except a 
point of order, the floor must be obtained, 
and a seconder is required. None is 
amendable except the motion to divide a 
question, and a motion as to method of 
consideration ; and no other subsidiary 
motion can be applied to any of them. 
All are carried by majority vote, except 
the motion to suspend the rules. The vote 
on all except on the motion to suspend the 
rules, may be reconsidered. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 99 

Questions of Order. 

I. R. 

Order means conformity to parliament- 
ary usages, to the standing rules of the 
assembly, and to all its previous decisions. 
The assembly, and each member of it, is 
entitled to have its business proceed in 
order. If the Chair allows the assembly 
to depart from order, any member has the 
right to call attention to the fact and to 
secure a return to the correct way. A 
speaker having the floor may be inter- 
rupted for this object 

A point of order must be raised at once 
or it is deemed to be waived. It has no 
standing except at the time when the 
established law is departed from, and 
before any other business has intervened. 
If there be much confusion, rising and 
endeavoring to make the point of order 
secures the right to call attention to it later. 

The question of order is always para- 
mount and dominates every other question, 
main, subsidiary, privileged or incidental. 
It cannot however supersede the motion to 
adjourn, if that motion is already made and 
if it were in order when made. 



lOO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The member who calls attention to a 
departure from the rules, rises in his place, 
and without getting the floor addresses the 
Chair, saying, " I rise to a point of order." 
The Chair responds, "State the point of or- 
der," or, "The gentleman will state his point 
of order." The statement is then made, and 
the Chair thereupon says, either, " The 
point of order is well taken," or, " The 
point of order is not well taken." If the 
member is content with the decision of the 
Chair he resumes his seat. If the point of 
order is sustained, the action of the as- 
sembly is made to conform thereto. If it 
is not sustained the proceedings continue 
unchanged. 

If any member is dissatisfied with the 
decision of the Chair he may appeal from 
its ruling, and the appeal then becomes 
temporarily the question before the as- 
sembly and is decided by the majority vote 
of the assembly as set forth under the rules 
relating to appeal from the ruling of the 
Chair. This appeal is debatable. 

The Chair may ask the advice of mem- 
bers upon points of order, but the advice 
must be given while sitting, in order to 
avoid the appearance of debate. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10 1 

The Charir, when unable to decide a ques- 
tion of order, may at once submit it to the 
vote of the assembly. 

A member may be called to order by the 
Chair or by another member. It is a breach 
of order to call for the question, or to move 
an adjournment, when a speaker has the 
floor ; to pass between the speaker and the 
Chair ; to in any way distract attention from 
the business of the assembly; or to use dis- 
respectful or offensive language in debate. 

When a member is called to order for 
unparliamentary language used in debate, 
the member called to order must sit down, 
and the assembly having heard the words 
complained of, acts upon the case. The 
member may first be heard in explanation, 
and if proper explanation or apology be 
made, there is usually a motion that the 
member be allowed to continue his speech. 
This motion is undebatable, and is carried 
by a majority vote. 

If the member denies having used the 
words complained of, the assembly must 
first consider the evidence offered. If the 
member who called the speaker to order 
demanded that his words be taken down, 
and the presiding officer so directed, the 



102 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

minutes may be used in evidence. The 
action taken may be in the nature of a pun- 
ishment, in which case the offending mem- 
ber or members should withdraw while 
action is taken. The only punishment which 
the assembly can inflict for disorder, or 
breach of decorum, is censure or expulsion. 
The House of Representatives can imprison. 

The action of the assembly may be de- 
termined by a majority vote, upon a debat- 
able motion, to censure, to reprimand, or to 
demand an apology or a retraction upon 
pain of expulsion, 

A call for the order or orders of the day is 
a demand for compliance with an order. 
When an as^sembly has decided that a ques- 
tion shall be taken up at a particular time, 
thus making it an order of the day, in case 
it is not at that time brought forward by 
the Chair, any member may call for it, and 
the Chair must put the question to vote, 
saying, '' Will the assembly now proceed to 
the orders of the day?" If carried, the 
subject under consideration when the call 
was made is laid aside, and the questions 
appointed for the time are taken up in their 
order, as explained under the motion to 
postpone to a certain time. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IO3 

Reading' of Papers. 

F. S. R. 

Whenever an assembly has to take final 
action upon a paper, any member may de- 
mand that the paper shall be once read, in 
order that the assembly may know what it 
is voting upon ; but any paper upon which 
the assembly is not to act can be read only 
by its consent. Papers offered solely for 
reference cannot be read except by order of 
the house. 

Whenever a member asks for the read- 
ing of any paper, evidently for the pur- 
pose of information and not for delay, 
the Chair may direct the paper to be read if 
there be no objection, and the clerk may 
read it. If any member objects to the read- 
ing, the question is put to vote without de- 
bate or amendment. 

When papers are referred to a commit- 
tee immediately upon presentation, they are 
usually not read in the assembly, though 
any member may insist on one reading. 

A member may not, without permission, 
read his own speech in debate. 

A request for permission to read a paper 
in debate has no rank above debate itselff 



104 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

In requesting the permission of the as- 
sembly for the reading of a paper in de- 
bate, it is usually well to mention the time 
required for reading and the person by 
whom the paper is to be read. 

Witlidrai;«^al of a Motion, 

F, S. R. 

After a motion is stated by the Chair, it 
belongs wholly to the assembly, and the 
mover has no more power over it than has 
any other member, except that he alone 
may ask the consent of the assembly to 
withdraw it. 

Up to the time of statement by the Chair 
the mover may withdraw or modify the 
motion. If it be changed after being sec- 
onded and before being stated, the seconder 
can withdraw the seconding. 

After statement by the Chair, the motion 
can be withdrawn by no one but the mover, 
and in no way but by the consent of the 
assembly. In the withdrawal the seconder 
need not be referred to. 

When a motion is withdrawn, the effect 
is to remove it from consideration. It has 
not been acted upon, and it can therefore 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10 5 

be renewed at any later time. It need not 
be entered in the minutes, because it does 
not influence future action in the assembly. 

The mover, desiring to withdraw his 
motion, says, " I ask the consent of the as- 
sembly to withdraw the motion." This is 
seconded, and the Chair says, " The con- 
sent of the assembly is asked for the with- 
drawal of the motion. Those consenting 
will say aye. Those opposed will say noT 
The Chair announces the result of the vote, 
saying, " The ayes have it, and consent is 
given," or, " The noes have it, and consent 
is withheld." If consent is given, the mover 
then says, " I withdraw the motion." 

An affirmative vote can be reconsidered, 
but not after the member has withdrawn 
the motion. A negative vote can be re- 
considered. 

Suspension of Rules. 

F. S. f . 

Parliamentary law governs, except when 
its provisions are changed by the special 
rules of the assembly. These special rules 
may provide for their own suspension, and 
may deniand therefor a majority, a two- 



I06 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

thirds, or a unanimous vote. Having been 
made with deliberation, it is unwise to sus- 
pend them on less than a two-thirds vote, 
and if they do not provide for their own 
suspension they should be suspended only 
by unanimous consent. 

The Constitution or the By-laws may be 
amended by regular methods prescribed 
by themselves, and all special rules may be 
changed by majority vote. 

The Constitution and By laws cannot be 
suspended ; the special rules may be sus- 
pended at any time by the required vote. 
When suspended they resume sway as soon 
as the special occasion for their suspension 
has passed, and they cannot be twice sus- 
pended for the same purpose at the same 
meeting. 

A motion to suspend a special rule out- 
ranks the motion to lay on the table and 
may supersede it when immediately appli- 
cable. 

The vote upon it cannot be reconsidered. 

The motions to extend or to limit debate 
where the rules fix the time, is a motion to 
this effect. The following are also exam- 
ples of motions to suspend the rules . " I 
niove to suspend the rule limiting debate 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10/ 

to ten minutes." " I move the suspension 
of the rule interfering with the continuance 
of debate beyond ten o'clock." " I move 
that the rule concerning the admission of 
visitors be suspended." " I move that the 
rule for adjournment at four o'clock be sus- 
pended, and that business be continued till 
half past four." 

Division of tlie Question, 

F. S. A. R. 

When a motion is composed of more 
than one distinct proposition, it may be di- 
vided so as to enable the assembly to vote 
on each proposition separately. Each pro- 
position must be capable of standing by 
itself as a substantive proposition, so that 
either proposition can be adopted alone 
and still be an intelligible expression of the 
mind of the assembly. 

A clause and its proviso could not be 
divided. For instance the motion "to 
commit with instructions;" ''to purchase 
fifteen shares of stock in the Grand Canal ; " 
"that a superintendent be placed in this 
ward, with power to appoint the requisite 
number of assistants ; " " that the class form 



I08 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

a permanent society for the study of Par- 
liamentary Law and that it meet on Tues- 
days at the homes of members," are all 
indivisible propositions. 

The following resolution is divisible into 
three parts. 

^'Resolved that this Society establish a 
permanent section for practice in Parlia- 
mentary Procedure, which section shall 
have exclusive use of its rooms every 
Thursday evening. It is also 

^'Resolved\.\i-^\. any member of this society 
shall be permitted to introduce to its sec- 
tions on the terms prescribed for each sec- 
tion, persons who are not members of this 
society. And be it further 

^'Resolved that all persons attending the 
meetings of sections shall be admitted 
thereto only on presentation of the ticket 
required by each section." 

The parts into which a motion is divided 
must not be interdependent. 

A division cannot be demanded as of right 
by any member but must depend on the vote 
of the assembly. If division is refused, the 
question may be amended with the same 
effect by striking out as by a negative vote 
on a part of the divided proposition. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IO9 

When a proposition is divided, its parts 
are taken up separately in their order, and 
each is treated as a main question. 

The motion to divide the question is not 
debatable. It can be amended only in 
regard to the place of division. 

This motion is in order after the Previous 
Question has been ordered. 

Motions as to the Method 
of Consideratiozi. 

F. S. A. R. 

These motions relate to limitation or 
extension of debate and the order of action 
in the assembly. Such a motion, when 
adopted, constitutes a special rule appli- 
cable only to the question under consider- 
ation. It is made only when no rules on 
the subject have been established. When 
rules have been established, of course no 
conflicting motion can be adopted, without 
unanimous consent. 

This motion can be amended only as to 
method. A motion for a special order of 
business, for informal consideration, to 
consider a report seriatim, to limit debate, 
to allow the speaker to continue, to go into 



no PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Committee of the Whole, are examples of 
motions as to method of consideration. 

Informal Consideration. — If a motion to 
consider a question informally be carried, 
each member may speak in debate as often 
as he can obtain the floor ; but if there be 
a rule limiting the time of each speaker, 
that rule still prevails over each speech 
made. While consideration is informal, no 
motion is in order except the motion to 
amend ; and the introduction of any other 
motion puts an end to the informal consid- 
eration. The method of procedure is the 
same as in Committee of the Whole, but 
the presiding officer of the assembly retains 
the chair and, when informal consideration 
ceases, announces to the assembly that the 
assembly acting informally has made cer- 
tain amendments which he reports. The 
amendments go before the assembly as if 
reported from a committee, and may be re- 
jected or altered by the assembly. The 
clerk keeps only a temporary record of the 
informal proceedings, but the report of the 
Chair to the assembly is entered on the 
minutes. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. Ill 

Appeal from tiie Ruling' of 
the Chair. 

S. D- ?. R. 

While it is the duty of the Chair to first 
decide questions of order, questions of privi- 
lege, interpretations of the rules, and pri- 
ority of business, any member who is 
dissatisfied with the ruling of the Chair may 
rise, turn to the assembly, and say, '' I ap- 
peal from the ruling of the Chair," and 
then resume his seat. If the appeal be 
seconded, the Chair, without leaving his 
place, says, ''The ruling of the Chair is 
appealed from. The question now before 
the assembly is : Shall the decision of the 
Chair stand as the judgment of the assem- 
bly f " 

This causes the main question to fall into 
abeyance until the appeal has been acted 
upon, and opens to debate the question ap- 
pealed to the assembly, unless the appeal 
relates solely to indecorum, to violation of 
the rules of speaking, or to priority of busi- 
ness, in which cases it is not debatable. 
Neither can it be debated if the Previous 
Question was pending at the time the 
appeal was made. 



112 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

If it be debatable, the Chair has the first 
right to the floor, and may, by argument or 
by reference to authorities, justify the ruHng 
made. The member making the appeal 
then has a right to the floor, and may cite 
authorities or render reasons. Others may 
debate, and if the debate be prolonged it 
may be closed by ordering the Previous 
Question. The Chair then puts the ques- 
tion to vote in this form : '' Shall the de- 
cision of the Chair stand as the judgment of 
the assembly? Those sustaining the judg- 
ment of the Chair will say aye. Those 
opposing will say no.^' The result of the 
vote is announced in one of the following 
forms: *'The ayes have it, and the judg- 
ment of the Chair is sustained;" or, "The 
noes have it, and the appeal is sustained." 
Whatever be the judgment of the assem- 
bly, the subsequent proceedings are made 
to conform thereto. 

If the vote be a tie the Chair is sustained, 
because the decision of the Chair stands 
unless overruled. The presiding officer, 
when a member of the assembly, has a 
right to vote, but it is in better taste for 
neither the member making the appeal nor 
the presiding officer to vote. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. II3 

When an appeal is pending no other 
appeal can be entertained. Were the rule 
otherwise appeal upon appeal might^ be 
made, resulting in inextricable confusion. 
All questions arising under an appeal must 
be peremptorily decided by the Chair, 
whose conduct may afterward be the sub- 
ject of action by the assembly. 

If the Chair refuses to put an appeal to 
vote, the person appealing may put it himself. 
Or the body may declare the Chair vacant 
and may elect another presiding officer. 

An appeal, to be in order, must be made 
immediately. When an appeal becomes 
debatable, only one speech from each mem- 
ber is permitted. 

An appeal may be laid on the table with- 
out affecting the main question. The effect 
is that of sustaining, at least temporarily, 
the decision of the Chair. 

The Previous Question when applied to 
an appeal does not close debate upon what 
was before the assembly before the appeal 
was made. 

An appeal yields to any Privileged Ques- 
tion. 

No appeal can be made from the decision 
of the Chair as to who is entitled to the floor. 



114 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

On an appeal the incidental question as 
to method of consideration may be raised. 

The rule that an appeal shall be second- 
ed protects the Chair from the assaults of 
a single adversary, and also prevents the 
wasting of the time of the assembly by one 
obstreperous member. 

Reconsideration. 

I. S. D- ?. 

The motion to reconsider a vote indi- 
cates that since the vote was taken some- 
thing has happened which has caused at 
least two of those who voted upon the pre- 
vailing side to change their views upon the 
question. After this motion is introduced 
no action can be taken in consequence of 
the vote which it is moved to reconsider, 
until the question of reconsideration is dis- 
posed of, either by action upon it, or by 
the ending of the session. The power to 
change a decision which unexpected con- 
ditions have rendered unwise is of such 
value that the motion to reconsider is an 
established one in Parliamentary Procedure, 
though it may be so used as to thwart the 
immediate effect of a motion that is sus- 
tained by the majority. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. II5 

In the British Parliament no question is 
reconsidered. If an error has been com- 
mitted it is rectified by another act. But 
in the United States the vote on any mo- 
tion may be reconsidered, and be either 
reaffirmed or revised, excepting the mo- 
tions to adjourn, to take the recess, to sus- 
pend the rules, to reconsider, and the 
motion to lay on the table, or to take from 
the table when decided affirmatively. De- 
cisions made by ballot, and the results of 
elections cannot be reconsidered, though 
they can be cast aside if reached irregu- 
larly. 

A question once adopted, rejected, or 
suppressed, cannot again be considered 
during the session, except by a majority 
vote to reconsider that question. The im- 
mediate effect of introducing the motion is 
to suspend all action that the original 
motion would have required. 

A motion to reconsider, if carried, brings 
back before the assembly the question that 
has been decided and places it just as it 
stood before the vote was taken upon it. 
It does nothing more than to annul the 
vote to which it is applied, and in all other 
respects the question stands before the 



Il6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

assembly precisely as it did the moment 
before it was put to vote. If any thing pre- 
viously changed by an amendment is to be 
altered, the vote on that amendment must 
also be reconsidered, and in each case of 
reconsideration the Chair must again put 
the question to vote. In general it may be 
said that if an assembly desires to recon- 
sider an act) it must retract in regular 
reverse order all votes affecting the point 
to be reconsidered. 

A motion to reconsider is not in order after 
action has been taken by the assembly, or by 
its members, in consequence of the decision 
which it is proposed to reconsider. For 
instance, a motion to commit cannot be 
reconsidered after the committee has taken 
the papers committed ; the papers could be 
recalled only by discharging the com- 
miteee. A motion to lay on the table, de- 
cided negatively, cannot be reconsidered if 
the business has proceeded further, for 
that would be equivalent to a renewal of 
the motion and should take that form. 
After an appeal from the Chair has been 
decided, and that decision has been acted 
upon, a motion to reconsider the vote of 
the assembly on the appeal would not be 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 11/ 

in order. If anything which the assembly 
cannot reverse has been done as a result of 
a vote, then that vote cannot be recon- 
sidered. 

A motion to reconsider can be made only on 
the day when the vote was taken. The House 
of Representatives and some other leg- 
islative bodies permit it to be made also 
on the succeeding day. It may be acted upon 
on another day than the one in which it is 
made. 

It can be withdrawn only by consent of 
the assembly, and upon the day in which 
it was made, and if withdrawn on that day 
another member can renew it. 

It can be made when a member has the 
floor, when other business is before the 
house, or when the vote is being taken on 
the motion to adjourn ; but action upon it 
must be deferred until the business then 
before the house is disposed of If there be 
business before the house, the motion to 
reconsider is made, seconded, stated by the 
Chair, and entered upon the minutes, and 
the business previously before the assem- 
bly proceeds. As soon as this business is 
disposed of, the motion to reconsider may 
be taken up, and at that time it has pre- 



Il8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

cedence over the orders of the day, and 
over all other motions except to fix the 
time to which to adjourn. 

It may be laid on the table, or may be 
postponed to a certain time, leaving the 
original motion thereby unaffected. 

If it is not called up, its effect terminates 
with the session. As long as its effect lasts 
any member may call up the motion to re- 
consider. When taken up it yields to 
privileged questions and incidental mo- 
tions, but not to orders of the day. 

The motion to reconsider can be made 
only by a member who voted on the pre- 
vailing side, as it would be mere waste of 
time for one of the minority to make it. If 
the vote was taken by yeas and nays, the 
record shows who voted on the prevail- 
ing side ; and if the vote was taken in 
any other manner, the Chair may inquire 
whether the mover voted on the pre- 
vailing side, and there are always witnesses 
whose testimony may be taken in cases of 
doubt. 

When the motion to reconsider is ap- 
plied to a subsidiary or an incidental 
question, it takes precedence of the main 
question. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IIQ 

No question can be twice reconsidered, 
unless an amendment has been made on 
reconsideration. 

When a vote taken under the operation 
of the Previous Question is reconsidered, 
the question is then divested of the Previ- 
ous Question and is open to further debate 
and amendment. 

The motion to reconsider cannot be 
amended. It is debatable or undebatable, 
just as is the question which it is proposed 
to reconsider. When that question is de- 
batable, the motion to reconsider opens up 
the entire subject to discussion ; when that 
question is undebatable, its reconsideration 
must be put to vote without debate. If it 
be debatable, a person who has previously 
exhausted his right of debate on the ques- 
tion can debate the motion to reconsider, 
but cannot debate further on the question 
itself if the motion to reconsider be carried. 
Under our system of reconsideration a main 
question may be thrice debated, once before 
its passage, once on the motion to recon- 
sider, and again after the latter motion is 
carried ; and every member of the assembly 
would have two opportunities to formally 
debate it. 



120 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The Previous Question can be applied to 
the motion to reconsider, and affect noth- 
ing beside it. The vote on the Previous 
Question can itself be reconsidered, but 
not after it has been partially executed. 

The motion to reconsider requires a ma- 
jority vote for its adoption, regardless of 
the vote necessary to adopt the motion re- 
considered. 

To Rescind. 

F. S. D. A. R. 

After the lapse of the day on which the 
motion to reconsider can be introduced, 
the only way to annul the action is to re- 
scind it. The motion to rescind can be 
made regardless of the time that has 
elapsed, and stands in every respect on the 
footing of a main question. If carried, the 
action to which it applies is null and void. 
The motion to rescind action on a propo- 
sition should include provision for meet- 
ing pecuniary or moral obligations that 
may have been incurred by the vote. 

To reconsider is to annul the single vote 
reconsidered ; to rescind is to do away with 
the whole law, motion or proposition, mak- 
ing room for a new question. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 121 

Yielding* the Floor. 

If a member yields the floor to a motion 
to adjourn or for a recess, and the motion 
is negatively decided, he is entitled to re- 
sume and proceed with his speech. If the 
motion is carried, he is entitled to resume 
at the next meeting when the subject is 
again before the assembly. 

A member having the floor may yield it 
for a question addressed to himself with- 
out losing his right to continue, for he re- 
gains the floor in the very act of replying. 
A member interrupted by the Question of 
Consideration may go on with his speech 
if the assembly decides to consider the 
question. In general a member interrup- 
ted in a parliamentary manner, as by a 
question of privilege, does not lose the right 
to the floor, but may resume it when 
the interrupting question is disposed of 

In all other cases yielding the floor 
means abandoning it to the assembly. 

Parliamentary Inquiries. 

When any member is in doubt concern- 
ing the effect of a vote, or in regard to the 
proper method of procedure, he may rise, 



122 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

address the chair and say, " I rise to a par- 
liamentary inquiry." The Chair should 
respond, saying, "Please state the inquiry," 
or, "The gentleman will make his inquiry." 
The member then asks his question, and 
the Chair elucidates the point referred to. 

Request foi* Information. 

A member may rise, address the Chair, 
and say, " I rise for information." The 
Chair will say, " The member will make 
his inquiry." After hearing the query, 
the Chair may answer it, or may refer it to 
another member for reply. A request for 
information, or the giving of a reply, does 
not destroy the right of debate on the mo- 
tion under consideration. 

Reports. 

Reports are received by hearing them. 
A report given simply for the information 
of members need not be accepted or 
adopted. Such reports are often given by 
investigating committees, and by officers at 
annual meetings. A treasurer's report may 
be received whenever the assembly requires 
it, but should be accepted only subsequent 
o its having been audited. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 123 

A report given for the information of the 
assembly may furnish the occasion for a 
vote of thanks, or for the introduction of a 
main question of great importance. 

Meeting's, 

The sessions of a Society terminate with 
its annual meetings, and for these a special 
order of business is usually made. 

Regular meetings are those whose times 
are determined by the rules of the society. 

An adjourned meeting is one for which 
the time is fixed at a regular meeting, the 
time being earlier than the next regular 
meeting. Members may be notified of 
an adjourned meeting. 

A special meeting is one called, in ac- 
cordance with the rules of the society, for 
a particular purpose All members should 
be notified of the meeting, and of the busi- 
ness to be brought forward. 

The minutes of all regular and adjourned 
meetings should be read at the close of the 
same meeting, or at the beginning of the 
next succeeding regular meeting. The 
minutes of a special meeting should be read 
at the next regular meeting. 



124 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The whole series of regular and ad- 
journed meetings during a session stand as 
one continuous conclave, in which the 
minutes are occasionally read for the re- 
freshment of the memory of the members, 
and for approval before final record. 

Quorum. 

The quorum of an assembly is the num- 
ber which must be present in order to ren- 
der the assembly competent to transact 
business. 

In assemblies which act upon their own 
responsibility, and which are neither repre- 
sentative nor judicial, no fixed number is 
required. In some assemblies, as in a town 
meeting, whoever comes is authorized to 
act, and the action taken binds others. 
Stockholders meetings are also of this 
class. 

In some bodies, as in a Board of Ref- 
erees, the whole number constitutes a 
quorum. 

Where the body is a representative one, 
performing the functions of government for 
a constituency, or a financial one manag- 
ing the business of the corporation which 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 12$ 

selected it, the quorum is a majority of the 
members and can be neither increased nor 
diminished by the vote of the body. City 
Councils and Boards of Directors are of 
this class. 

In voluntary bodies the quorum may be 
fixed by the vote of the body itself 

There is no definite rule, applicable to all 
cases, for the determination of the number 
that should form a quorum. 

In the House of Lords, consisting of 
about 550 members, three area quorum. 

In the House of Commons, with about 
670 members, forty are a quorum. 

In the French Chamber of Deputies 
and in the U. S. Congress, a majority of 
the elected members are a quorum. 

In the House of Representatives, fifteen 
members may determine to compel the 
attendance of absent members. 

In committees, including a Committee of 
the Whole, a majority is a quorum. 

If a quorum be not present, and the fact 
is ascertained by count of the Chair, or in 
any other way previously determined by 
the assembly, then the assembly must 
adjourn, unless it remains in session to 
compel attendance. 



126 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Even if there be no quorum, the assem- 
bly may legally fix the time to which to 
adjourn, and may adjourn; but these are 
the only questions which can be con- 
sidered. 

All voluntary assemblies should deter- 
mine their quorum, and it is usually 
expedient to reduce the required number 
below the majority. This should be done 
after fixing the time and place of meetings. 

The quorum required is a present, not a 
voting, quorum. A quorum being present, 
those who sit silent are regarded as voting 
on the prevailing side. The Chair should, 
however, generally insist upon every 
member's voting. 

In case that less than a quorum votes, 
the Secretary or Clerk should record the 
fact of a quorum being present, and this 
should be done on an actual count. 

In practical application a quorum is 
presumed to be present, if no member 
raises a question on the subject. 

It is not decided whether a quorum is 
necessary during debate. It is necessary in 
England, but not in France, and is insisted 
on in the U. S. Senate, but not in the 
House of Representatives. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 12^ 

Duties of Officers and Mem- 
bers. 

The presiding officer should be courteous, 
impartial, and firm ; should cultivate a 
good presence; should have a resonant voice 
and a perfect temper; should understand par- 
liamentary law; and should know when to 
press a rule, and when to let common con- 
sent hold sway. 

The following statement of the duties of 
officers and members is found in Reed's 
Rules : — 

It is the duty of the presiding officer to 
call the assembly to order at the appointed 
time ; to ascertain the presence of a quo- 
rum; to call for the reading of the minutes 
and to have them passed upon by the 
assembly; to lay before the assembly its 
business in the order indicated by its 
rules ; to receive propositions made by 
members of the assembly, to state them, 
submit them to vote and announce the re- 
sult; to decide all questions of order, sub- 
ject to appeal to the assembly; to answer 
all parliamentary inquiries, and give infor- 
mation as to the parliamentary effect of 
proposed action ; to present to the assem- 



128 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

bly all proper communications to it, and 
all messages from coordinate branches ; to 
sign and authenticate all acts, resolves, and 
votes of the assembly ; to name a member 
to take the chair until the adjournment of 
the meeting; to keep the assembly in 
order; and to represent the assembly sub- 
ject to its expressed will. 

The presiding officer can neither make 
nor second motions, and in case of absence 
cannot appoint a substitute. 

The presiding officer should rise when 
stating a question, when putting a question 
to vote, and whenever addressing the as- 
sembly as a whole, but may sit at other 
times as when recognizing a member for 
the purpose of giving him the floor, and 
when hearing debate. 

The presiding officer should always be 
himself in order, and should act with the 
decorum that he ought to demand from 
other members. He should specifically call 
to order any member who persists in dis- 
order. If the authority of the Chair is 
insufficient, the assembly should assist the 
Chair iti the maintenance of order, and in 
case the assembly fails in its duty, the pre- 
siding officer may leave the chair and 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 29 

refuse to return thereto until order is re- 
stored. 

A presiding officer elected by an assem- 
bly may be removed by the assembly at its 
will. The assembly can at all times control 
the occupancy of the chair. By a two- 
thirds vote the chair may be declared 
vacant, and a new election may be had. 

Vice-Preside7tt Whenever the President 
is absent or disabled, the Vice-President 
assumes all the duties of the office. If 
no presiding officer be present, the record- 
ing officer calls the meeting to order, and 
then calls for the nomination of a tempo- 
rary chairman. If no officer be present, 
any member may call the meeting to order 
and temporary officers may be chosen. 

Recording Secretary, Clerk or Recorder. 
The recording officer should be a good 
reader, a ready penman, quick in observa- 
tion, and apt at making accurate digests of 
proceedings. He should at the meetings sit 
near the presiding officer, so as to assist 
more easily in the order of business. It is 
the duty of the recording officer to keep 
the journal or minutes; to read them on 
the call of the Chair, and to read all papers 
demanded by the assembly or its rules ; to 



130 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

keep an accurate list of members ; to call 
the roll whenever the presence of members 
is determined by that method, or when the 
yeas and nays are ordered ; to preserve on 
file all documents and papers belonging to 
the assembly, or made a part of its pro- 
ceedings ; to authenticate, either alone or 
conjointly with the presiding officer, all 
acts, resolves, and proceedings of the as- 
sembly, except where by law or rule other 
authentication is required ; to furnish to 
the chairman of each comm-ittee a correct 
list of its members ; to notify committees 
of all business referred to them, and to 
send them all papers relating to such busi- 
ness. 

The recording officer, if a member, has 
the right to introduce motions, to second 
motions, to debate, to vote, and to partici- 
pate in the proceedings in all ways not in- 
consistent with the performance of his 
duties. The holding of office does not 
annul the rights of membership. 

Corresponding Secretary. It is the duty 
of the Corresponding Secretary to conduct 
the correspondence of the Society, and to 
keep on file all important letters received 
and copies of those written. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I3I 

Treasurer. It is the duty of the Treas- 
urer to securely keep the moneys of the 
Society ; to collect the dues from mem- 
bers ; to keep an accurate account of all 
sums received and paid ; to make reports 
and show vouchers at such times as may 
be prescribed by the rules, and to follow all 
instruction given by the assembly concern- 
ing its funds. The Treasurer should pay 
out money only on the order of the So- 
ciety, signed by the President and Record- 
ing Secretary. 

A Treasurer's report should be accepted 
only when it has been audited by the ap- 
pointed persons, and this should be at least 
annually. 

Other Officers. A presiding and a re- 
cording officer are all that are strictly 
requisite for parliamentary organization, but 
other officers may be added to any number 
demanded by the needs of the assembly. 
The rules of each deliberative body prescribe 
the duties of its officers, as well as their 
number and the manner in which they shall 
be appointed. 

Duties of Members. It is the duty of 
every member to enter and leave the cham- 
ber quietly ; to refrain from everything in- 



132 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

dicative of disrespect ; to address no one 
but the presiding officer during the meet- 
ing ; to obey the rules of the assembly ; 
and to diligently attend to the business im- 
mediately before the assembly. If the pre- 
siding officer rises to speak, when the floor 
has not been assigned to anyone, it is the 
duty of any member who may previously 
have risen to be seated. 

Rights of Members. Every member is in 
a parliamentary sense the equal of every 
other member. Each has the right to pre- 
sent propositions and to debate them ; to 
vote on every question determined by the 
assembly ; to demand that the proceedings 
be in order and to insist on decorum in 
debate. 

Homination of Officers. 

To nominate is to name for office. A 
candidate receiving a majority of votes is 
elected whether previously nominated or 
not. The purpose of nomination is to con- 
centrate votes, so that a majority can be 
secured for one candidate without too great 
expenditure of time in balloting. A person 
who had not been nominated might be 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 33 

elected, but election without repeated ballot- 
ing would be improbable. 

The rules of a Society should provide 
for the nomination of officers as well as for 
their election. There are several methods 
of nomination, each appropriate in its place. 

I . By nomination from the floor. As in the 
nomination of members for a committee, no 
one member should nominate more than 
one candidate for each office. The mem- 
ber rises in his place, addresses the Chair, 

and says, '' I nominate Mr. ," and 

sits down. When the nomination is 

seconded, the Chair says '* Mr. 

is nominated," and the Secretary records 
the nomination. There is no limit to the 
number of those who may be nominated, 
except by order of the assembly. The nomi- 
nations may close by common consent, or 
any member may move ''That the nomina- 
tions be now closed," and if the motion be 
carried, no further nominations can be 
made. When the nominations have been 
closed, the Chair having so declared, the 
Chair reads, in the order of their nomina- 
tion, the names of all who have been nomi- 
nated, and then puts the names to vote. 
When nomination is from the floor, the 



134 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

vote on the names proposed may be by 
acclamation or by ballot. If the vote 
is by acclamation the Chair puts them 
to vote in their order, one by one ; and 
whenever a majority vote for any nominee, 
that nominee is declared elected, and no 
more names are voted upon. 

2. By Nominating Committee. Officers 
may be nominated by a committee appointed 
by the Chair. This method gives the Chair 
great power over the ensuing election, be- 
cause the committee may be made up of 
those known to favor the nomination of cer- 
tain persons approved by the Chair. Even 
when the committee is required to report 
two sets of candidates, it can offer incom- 
petent rivals to the favored candidates, and 
thus secure the election of the latter. This 
method of nomination is commendable only 
when the majority of the members are un- 
acquainted with each other and with the af- 
fairs of the Society, or when they are indif- 
ferent to the interests of the Society. 

When the nominating committee is itself 
nominated from the floor, and the names 
proposed for the committee are voted upon 
in the order of nomination, there is large 
opportunity for different factions to be rep- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 35 

resented upon the committee. But the 
committee thus created has also great 
power in controlling the election, and does 
in fact virtually choose the officers. 

3. By Informal Ballot. In this method of 
nomination the ballot is taken in the usual 
way, each member writing upon the ballot 
the name of the person preferred for the of- 
fice named. When all the ballots are re- 
ceived, they are counted by the tellers un- 
der the usual rules, and the two persons 
receiving the highest and the next to the 
highest number of votes are the nominees. 
If there be a tie vote for the two next the 
highest, then there are three nominees. 

The nominees are announced by the 
Chair, and the formal ballot is taken for 
election, only the nominees being voted for. 
Balloting must continue until one of the 
nominees receives a majority of the votes 
cast. 

The advantage of this method is that it 
gives to every member the opportunity to 
nominate, and is therefore absolutely fair. It 
is also an economy of material ; for after one 
officer has been chosen, the whole remain- 
ing membership is offered for choice of the 
next officer, and so on to the end. 



136 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

In a small society this method is suffic- 
iently short to be practicable. In large so- 
cieties the principle may be preserved, and 
time also saved, by issuing blank ballots for 
nomination, having printed upon the infor- 
mal ballot, under an invitation to nominate, 
the titles of all offices to be filled in the 
ensuing election. Every member should 
receive a distinctive envelope and one infor- 
mal ballot, printed on distinctive paper, and 
duly signed by the Recording Secretary. 
After writing under their respective titles 
the names of preferred candidates, the mem- 
ber returns the ballot to the Secretary, who 
passes all the ballots, unopened, to the 
Tellers, to be counted at a time and place 
and under the eyes of Inspectors appointed 
by the assembly. Ballots containing more 
than one name to each office are cast out. 

The informal ballot is the ballot for 
nomination ; the formal ballot is the ballot 
for election. In announcing the result of 
the informal ballot, the Chair mentions no 
names besides those of the nominees ; in 
announcing the result of the /<?r/;/^/ ballot, 
the Chair mentions no other name than 
that of the successful candidate. In an- 
nouncing the result of the informal ballot, 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 37 

the Chair does not mention the number of 
votes cast; in announcing the result of the 
fonnal ballot, the Chair always mentions 
the number of votes cast. 

Election of Officers. 

The nominees are sometimes announced 
by the Chair at the meeting for the election 
of officers and the formal ballot is then tak- 
en, only those present being permitted to 
cast votes. 

When, in the informal ballot for nomin- 
ation, a majority of votes are cast for one 
nominee, time may be saved by a motion 
"that the informal ballot be made formal." 
This motion should be voted upon by ac- 
clamation, and if carried, the nominee is 
declared elected ; but if the motion be 
lost, the formal ballot must be taken in the 
usual way. 

Or the Secretary, or a Teller may be 
instructed to cast the formal ballot, as 
described under the general directions for 
balloting. 

Formal Ballot by Mail. When members 
of a society are numerous and scattered, 
the ballot for election may also well be 



138 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

taken through the mails. A blanket ballot 
containing the names of the nominees, 
printed under the names of the offices to 
which they are respectively nominated, may 
be sent with a distinctive envelope to each 
member. A cross, made before the name 
of the preferred nominee in each office, indi- 
cates the vote of the member. These for- 
mal ballots are returned by mail to the Re- 
cording Secretary, and are transferred un- 
opened to the Tellers, who open and count 
them in the presence of the Inspectors. A 
majority for one nominee constitutes an 
election, unless the Constitution requires 
a larger or smaller number of votes there- 
for. 

When Nominees Vote. It is customary 
for all nominees to refrain from voting upon 
the question of their own election unless 
there be a blanket ballot, that is, a ballot 
containing the names of the nominees for 
several offices. If a rival candidate votes, 
it is permissible and often commendable for 
the other nominee tO vote. 

Voting by Proxy. No member may vote 
by proxy unless the rules of the Society so 
declare. If such voting is permitted, the 
g,uthorization of the proxy should be 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 39 

signed, and the signature be attested by a 
Notary Public. 

Electioneering . It is proper to election- 
eer both publicly and privately. Previous 
to an informal ballot, members may openly 
recommend a certain candidate, and pre- 
vious to the formal ballot speeches may be 
made in favor of any nominee, but no mem- 
ber is obliged to vote for the candidate thus 
recommended. The purpose of electioneer- 
ing is to concentrate votes on the candidate 
recommended ; and an electioneering 
speech may be made without discourtesy 
to any rival candidate. 

Declining Office. The time to decline 
office is before election. Any member who 
cannot serve in office should say so on the 
earliest intimation of nomination. No per- 
son should be elected to office without hav- 
ing previously consented to serve in case of 
election. 

Installation in Office. The election of 
officers is usually fixed for the annual meet- 
ing, or the meeting next before it. The 
officers take their place, one by one as soon 
as elected, or all at the beginning of the 
next succeeding meeting, or at such time 
after election as the Constitution declares. 



I40 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

When permanent officers succeed tempor- 
ary ones, each officer as soon as elected, 
succeeds the temporary officer. 

Temporary officers are either appointed 
or elected. 

Minutes or Journal. 

The minutes are a record of the proceed- 
ings, kept by the Recording Officer. The 
rule is to record whatever influences future 
action. The disposal of every principal mo- 
tion must be recorded ; those that are lost, 
because they are debarred from being in- 
troduced again during the session, and 
those that are affirmatively voted upon, 
because they demand subsequent attention. 

The minutes should begin with the name 
of the Society, and the place and date of 
its meeting ; should state whether the 
meeting is regular, adjourned or special ; 
who presided over it, and whether the min- 
utes from the previous meeting were read 
and approved. 

It is usual to record the names of the 
mover and the seconder of the main ques- 
tions. A digest of the arguments presented 
ia debate may be inserted if the recorder is 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I4I 

apt in such work, and such digests often 
make the minutes of greater value, but they 
cannot be demanded, and it is usually bet- 
ter to confine the journal strictly to what has 
been done. What has been proposed or 
discussed but not regularly presented and 
acted upon has no place in the minutes. 

The Recording Officer often writes the 
journal three times. The first time all mo- 
tions made in the meeting are noted in their 
order, with the disposal of each, and these 
notes are used if need be to assist the mem- 
ory of the presiding officer during the pro- 
gress of business, or in case of reconsider- 
ation. 

After adjournment for the day, when the 
reconsideration of any vote would no longer 
be in order, the notes may be written out 
in full, omitting incidental motions, and all 
such subsidiary motions as have no influ- 
ence on future action. These minutes are 
read at the next meeting on call of the 
Chair, and are subject to correction and 
amendment by the assembly. After ap- 
proval by the assembly, the minutes may be 
exactly copied for permanent preservation 
and reference, and must be open, at reason- 
able times, to the inspection of any member. 



142 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

It is in order for the assembly to correct 
the minutes regardless of the time that has 
elapsed since they were made, or of the 
number of times they have been corrected. 

When a vote is by ballot the number ol 
votes on each side should be entered in the 
minutes, and when the Yeas and Nays are 
called the list of the names as well as the 
number of votes should be recorded. 

Minutes are usually read at the beginning 
of the next meeting, but if the next meeting 
will not soon occur, the minutes should be 
read at the close of the meeting to which 
they pertain, and should then be corrected 
and approved. 

Any member may offer either a correc- 
tion or an amendment to the minutes, and in 
case of dispute, the amendment is acted up- 
on by the assembly as a main question. 

The recording officer, whether a perman- 
ent or a temporary one, should sign the 
minutes of the meeting. The Recording 
Secretary, or Clerk, or Recorder is the cus- 
todian of all minutes recording the past pro- 
ceedings of the assembly. 

To Expunge from the Minutes. It some- 
times happens that an assembly desires to 
expunge from the minutes a true record 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 43 

that has already been approved. In such 
case any member may move to expunge a 
certain page or paragraph, and if the vote 
therefor be unanimous, the recording officer 
pastes a blank paper over the expunged 
portion and writes thereupon '' Expunged 
by order of the assembly," giving the 

date. 

Numbering. The numbers prefixed to 
paragraphs or sections, being only marginal 
indications, should be corrected, if neces- 
sary, by the recording officer, without a 
motion to amend. 

Org'anization of a Society. 

A Society generally has its origin in the 
mind of an individual, who confers with 
others about the aims of the association. 
When a few have been found to be of one 
opinion in regard to the matter, a call for a 
meeting is issued. When the time of the 
meeting arrives, one of those who issued 
the call rises and calls the meeting to order, 
and either nominates or asks for the nomi- 
nation of a temporary chairman. The nomi- 
nation having been made and seconded, it 
is put to vote by acclamation, and the tern- 



144 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

porary chairman as soon as elected, takes 
the chair. 

The election of a temporary secretary is 
next in order, and as soon as one is like- 
wise nominated and elected, the temporary 
organization of the Society is effected. A 
presiding and a recording officer are usually 
the only ones necessary to the temporary 
organization, but others may be chosen. 
All the temporary officers hold office until 
the permanent officers shall have been 
elected. 

A discussion of the object and rules of 
the association follows, and then a motion is 
made to proceed to permanent organiza- 
tion. Those who intend to participate in 
the undertaking, are asked to rise, and 
these become the original members or 
founders of the Society. 

Tlie Making of a Oon-stitu- 

tion, By-La^ws, and Special 
Rules. 

For this work it is customary to appoint 
a committee, with instructions to report at 
a future meeting. These fundamental rules 
vary so greatly with the structure and pur- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 45 

poses of Societies, that no model can be 
given ; but certain provisions are alike 
necessary for all. A Constitution should 
contain only what is fundamental, and what 
will require no speedy alteration, and 
should contain at least six Articles. 

ARTICLE I.— Name. 

Under this heading the name of the or- 
ganization should be declared. Its name 
should be distinctive, that it may preserve 
its individuality in case legal questions arise 
concerning property belonging to, or be- 
queathed to it. The name should be short, 
because it is to be often written or spoken. 

ARTICLE II.— Object. 

Under this heading the reason which the 
Society has for its being should be briefly 
set forth. It is better to say too little 
rather than too much, and to avoid details, 
thus leaving freedom for adjustment to 
changing circumstances. If there be a 
motto it should be here inserted. 

ARTICLE III. — Membership. 

This article should clearly indicate the 
method by which members enter the So- 



146 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

ciety, and everything relating to their ad- 
mission should be methodically set forth. 

ARTICLE IV.—Officers. 

This article should state what officers the 
Society shall have, when and how they 
shall be nominated and elected, what their 
term of office shall be, and how vacancies 
shall be filled. If there is to be a Board 
of Managers, Directors or Trustees, the 
manner of creating the Board should be 
described, and its powers should be defined, 
either in this or a separate article. 

ARTICLE v.— Meetings. 

The times of the regular and annual 
meetings should be stated, and the rule un- 
der which special meetings may be called 
should be laid down. The number forming 
a quorum should also be declared. 

ARTICLE VI. — ^Amendment. 

Every Constitution should provide for 
its own amendment, and this article should 
be the last in the Constitution. If there 
be other articles, they may be interposed 
between the last two. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 47 

Any article may contain several Sections, 
and these should be consecutively num- 
bered within each article, using Arabic 
numerals. Clearness and the utmost 
brevity consistent therewith should char- 
acterize the fundamental laws of the Society. 

A Society simply constructed, and with 
no complexity in its business, may require 
nothing more than a Constitution for a suf- 
ficient setting forth of its rules ; but if there be 
need of detailed statements for the guidance 
of the members, these should be arranged as 
By-Laws, giving specifically under consecu- 
tive Articles the duties of Officers, duties 
of Members, the list of Standing Commit- 
tees and their respective duties, and all de- 
tails relating to the meetings or manage- 
ment of the Society. The By-Laws should 
always mention the Parliamentary author- 
ity which shall guide the Society in its pro- 
cedure. 

The last article in the By-Laws should 
state how the By-Laws may be amended. 



148 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Special Rules. 

The proceedings of no one deliberative 
body can in every respect be taken as a Par- 
liamentary model for any other. Each 
body has, for matters of detail, special rules 
adapting the general rules of procedure to 
its special circumstances. All regulations 
which the Society may wish to suddenly 
alter, and all such rules as may need to be 
suspended for a single occasion, should be 
arranged under the head of Special Rules. 
These can at any time be suspended, re- 
suming sway as soon as the single occasion 
for the suspension shall have passed. They 
may determine the time allowed to each 
speaker in debate, the terms upon which 
visitors shall be admitted, the hour for call- 
ing to order and for adjournment, the place 
of meeting, the order of business, etc. 
Whether any regulation should be placed 
among the By-Laws or among the Special 
Rules must be determined by the proba- 
bility of need for its sudden supension. 

The Special Rules should provide for 
their own suspension. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 49 

Order of Business. 

Every deliberative body should have a 
regular order of business to be followed at 
its meetings. This may be prepared by a 
member, or by a committee, and adopted by 
a majority vote of the assembly. The order 
may be more or less complex, depending on 
the amount and variety of business to be 
transacted. One of the following orders 
would be practicable for most organizations : 

No. 1. 

1. Calling to order. 

2. Reading and approval of minutes. 

3. Unfinished business. 

4. New business. 

5. Adiournment. 

No. 2. 
1. Calling to order. 
3. Approval of the journal. 

3 . Orders of the day . 

4. Report of committees. 

5. Unfinished business. 

6. New business. 

7. Adiournment. 

No. 3. 

1. Calling to order. 

2 . Calling the roll. 

3. Approval of the minutes . 

4. Reports of officers. 

5. Reports of special committees. 

6. Reports of standing committees. 

7. Unfinished business. 

8 . Other business. 

9. Adjournment. 



150 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Exercises. 

The Association for Village Improvement is 
holding a meeting. 

Chair. New business is now in order. 

Mr. A. rises. Mr. President. 

Chair. Mr. A. 

Mr. A. I offer the following resolution. 
Whereas, dogs are subject to rabies, and 
are thereby a source of danger in the com- 
munity, and 

Whereas, their barking destroys sleep, 
and is afflictive both to the sick and the 
well, and 

Whereas, lawsuits on their account have 
lately endangered friendly relations in this 
neighborhood, be it 

Resolved, that this Association print and 
distribute in this township carefully pre- 
pared literature dissuading householders 
from the keeping of dogs. Sits. 

Mrs. B. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the resolution. Sits. 

Chair rises, and reads the resolution, then 
says, the resolution is open to debate. Sit5» 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I5I 

Mr. C. rises* Mr. President. 

Chair. Mr. C. 

Mr. C. speaks. During the last year, the 
flocks of sheep, which are decorative to 
the hills around this village and a source 
of revenue to their owners, have been 
worried 

Mr. D. rises. Mr. President, I raise the 
question of consideration. Sits. Mr. C. sits. 

Chair rises. The question of considera- 
tion is raised. Those in favor of consider- 
ing the question will rise and stand to be 
counted. Counts, Be seated* Those op- 
posed to consideration of the question will 
rise. Counts. Be seated. The ayes have 
it and the resolution will be considered. 
Sits. 

Mr. C. rises ^ and without again getting the 
floor ^ which is his by right ^ proceeds with his 
speech. Others follow in debate^ pro and con. 

Miss E. gets the floor. I move that a com- 
mittee of three be appointed by the Chair, 
to ascertain, and to report at our next 
meeting, what is the highest pecuniary 
value of any dog now kept in this village. 
Sits. 



152 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Chair. That motion is not now in order, 
as there is already a principal motion be- 
fore the assembly. 

Mr. D. gets the floor. I move the inde- 
finite postponement of this question. Sits, 

Mrs. D. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Mr. C. gets the floor, I move to lay the 
question on the table. Sits. 

Miss C. rises. I second the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to lay the reso- 
lution on the table. Those in favor of so 
doing will say aye. — Those opposed will saj^ 
no. — The Chair is in doubt. Those in favor 
of laying the resolution on the table will 
rise and stand to be counted. — Be seated. 
Those opposed will rise.— Be seated. There 
is a tie and the motion to lay on the table 
is lost. 

The motion for indefinite postponement 
has been made, and that motion is now 
open to debate. Sits. 

Dr. F. gets the floor. I ask the consent of 
the assembly to read a passage from a late 
medical journal, concerning the number of 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 53 

deaths from hydrophobia, in this State, 
during the last decade. Sits. 

Mr. A. rises. I second the request. Sits. 

Chair rises. Dr. F. asks the consent of 
the assembly to his reading from a medical 
journal a passage bearing upon the question 
before us. Those consenting will say aye. 
— Those opposed will say no. — The ayes 
have it, and consent is given. Sits. 

Dr. F. rises ^ and reads the passage. After 
reading he continues in debate^ and closes by 
saying, There is much more to be said on 
this topic, but I see that my time has 
lapsed. Sits. 

Mrs. G. gets the floor. I move that the 
rule limiting speakers in debate to ten min- 
utes be suspended, in order to allow Dr. 
F. as much time as he wishes to take for 
his argument. Sits. 

Mrs. A. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to suspend the 
rule limiting debaters to ten minutes, in 
order that Dr* F. may continue his speech. 
Those in favor of this will rise. — Be seated. 
Those opposed will rise. — Be seated. There 



154 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

are nineteen ayes and ten noes. The Chair 
votes with the ayes, making the requisite 
two-thirds, and the rule is suspended. Dr. 
F. has the floor* 

Dr. F. concludes his speech; then sits. 

Mr. H. gets the floor. Many dogs are kept 
by residents who are not householders, 
and these dogs are as subject to rabies as 
are those of householders. I agree with 
the last speaker in considering one citizen 
to be of greater value than all the dogs in 
the town; but I see no reason why we 
should apply dissuasion from the keeping 
of dogs, to householders only. I move to 
amend the resolution by striking out the 
word . 

Chair. The motion to amend is not in 
order; the question now before the as- 
sembly is that of indefinite postponement. 

Mr. H. I move the Previous Question 
to the motion for indefinite postponement. 
Sits. 

Miss E. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
moved to the motion to postpone indefin- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I 55 

itely. Those in favor of now closing debate 
on the motion for the indefinite postpone- 
ment of the resolution, will say aye. — Those 
opposed will say no. — The ayes have it and 
debate is closed. 

The vote will now be taken upon the in- 
definite postponement of the resolution. 
Those in favor of its indefinite postpone- 
ment will say aye. — Those opposed will say 
no. — The noes have it; the resolution is 
still before the assembly, and subject to 
further debate. Sits. 

Mr. H. gets the floor. I move to amend 
the resolution by striking out the word 
"householders" and inserting the words "all 
residents." Sits. 

Chair. Is the amendment seconded ? 

Mrs. H. rises. I second the amendment. 
Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
resolution by striking out the word "house- 
holders" and inserting the words "all resi- 
dents/' making the resolution to read "lit- 
erature dissuading all residents from the 
keeping of dogs." Is there any debate on 
the offered amendment? Sits. 



156 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Mrs. I. gets the floor. I move to amend 
the amendment by striking out the words 
"all residents" and inserting the word 
"people." Sits. 

Chair. The offered amendment to the 
amendment is not in order, because it de- 
stroys the offered amendment. If the 
amendment is not carried, the offered 
amendment to the amendment can then be 
presented in the form of an amendment to 
the principal motion. 

Mr. M. gets the floor. It would perhaps 
better express the views of a majority in 
the Association to say "householders and 
all residents." There are householders who 
are not residents, and residents who are not 
householders. If the mover of the amend- 
ment will withdraw it, I will offer an 
amendment in this form. Sits. 

Mr. H. gets the floor. Mr. President, I ask 
to withdraw my amendment. Sits. 

Mrs. H. rises. I second the request. Sits. 

Chair. Is there any objection to the 
withdrawal of the amendment proposed 
by Mr. H* to strike out the word '^house- 
holders" and insert the words "all resi- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 5/ 

dents?" No objection being made, Mr. H. 
may withdraw the offered amendment. 

Mr. H. says : I withdraw the amendment. 

Mrs. H. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
Parliamentary inquiry. 

Chair. The lady will make her inquiry. 

Mrs. H. Would it now be in order to 
refer this resolution to a committee to be 
revised and reported upon at our next 
meeting? 

Chair. That would be in order. 

Mrs. H. Then I move that the resolution 
be referred to a committee consisting of 
Mr. A., Mrs. B. and Mr. M. to be revised 
and reported upon at our next meeting. 
Sits. 

Mrs. I. rises, I second the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to refer the re- 
solution to a committee consisting of Mr. 
A., Mrs. B. and Mr. M. to be revised and 
reported upon at our next meeting. Are 
there any remarks on this motion ? Sits. 

Mrs. N. gets the floor. To our next meet- 
ing several important questions have been 
postponed, and it is improbable that there 
will then be time for the report of any 



158 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

committee now appointed. Desiring the 
resolution before us to have ample and un- 
hurried consideration, I move to amend 
the motion by striking out the words ''to 
be revised and reported upon at our next 
meeting," and to insert the words, "for its 
revision." 

Mrs. I. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
motion to refer to a committee by striking 
out the words "to be revised and reported 
upon at our next meeting," and to insert 
the words "for its revision," making the mo- 
tion to be, "to refer the resolution to a com- 
mittee consisting of Mr. A., Mrs. B. and Mr. 
M. for its revision." Are there any remarks 
on the proposed amendment ? Sits. 

Mr. A. rises. Mr. President, I rise for 
information. 

Chair. The member will state his inquiry. 

Mr. A. What are the questions ordered 
for consideration at our next meeting ? Sits. 

Chair. The Secretary will answer the 
inquiry. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 59 

Secretary rises and reads from the minutes^ 
mentioning several questions that will at the 
next meeting be orders of the day. Sits. 

Chair. Are you ready for the question ? 

Several voices. Question, question. 

Chair rises. The vote will be taken on 
the amendment to strike out the words 
*'to be revised and reported upon at our 
next meeting," and insertingthe words "for 
revision." Those agreeing to this amend- 
ment, will say ^j/^.-Those opposing it will 
say;2^.-The ayes have it, and the amendment 
is agreed to. The question is now upon re- 
ferring the resolution to a committee. Are 
there any further remarks or amendments ? 

Mr. D. rises ^ gets the floor. I move to 
amend the motion for referring to a com- 
mittee, by adding to the names mentioned 
those of Mr. O. and Mr. P. Sits. 

Mrs. D. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair. It is moved to amend the motion, 
by adding to the names on the committee 
those of Mr. O. and Mr. P. Are there any 
remarks ? None are\made. 



l60 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Is there any objection to adding these 
names ? No objection being made, the 
names of Mr. O. and Mr. P. are added to 
those already mentioned in the motion to 
refer. Is there any debate on the amended 
motion ? The question now to be voted 
upon is, "Will the Association refer the re- 
solution to a committee consisting of Mr. A., 
Mrs. B., Mr. M., Mr. O. and Mr. P. for re- 
vision?" Those in favor of this will say aye 
-Those opposed will say no— The ayes have 
it and the resolution is so referred. Sits. 

Mr. A. gets the floor. I move that when 
we adjourn we adjourn to meet in this 
place next Saturday morning at ten o'clock. 
Sits. 

Mrs. C. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved that when we 
adjourn we adjourn to meet in this place 
next Saturday morning at ten o'clock. Is 
there any discussion ? Sits. 

Mr. A. gets the floor. There is much un- 
finished business to be attended to, more 
than the Association seems quite able to 
overtake. By the holding of an adjourned 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. l6l 

meeting we might be able to reach a con- 
clusion concerning the disputed uses of the 
base-ball ground, and we might also act on 
the report of the committee now appointed 
for the revision of the resolution concern- 
ing dogs. Spring is approaching, and any 
action taken in consequence of the adop- 
tion of the resolution would be now most 
opportune. I hope that all members will 
willingly give a few^ hours before the next 
regular meeting, to the business of the 
Association. Sits. 

Mrs. M, gets the floor. It will be difficult 
for some of our members to attend a Satur- 
day morning meeting. I move to amend the 
motion by striking out the words, "morning 
at ten o'clock," and inserting, "evening at 
eight o'clock." Sits. 

Mr. M. rises. I second the amendment. 
Sits. 

Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
motion by striking out the words "morning 
at ten o'clock," and inserting the words 
"evening at eight o'clock," making the time 
of the adjourned meeting to be Saturday 
evening at eight o'clock. 



l62 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Miss E. gets the floor. I move to amend 
by striking out "Saturday" and inserting 
"Friday." Saturday night is . 

Chair. The last motion is out of order. 
There is one primary amendment before 
the assembly, and another cannot be made 
until this is disposed of. The question is 
on the amendment, proposed by Mrs* M. 
Miss E. sits. Chair sits. 

Mr. J. rises, Mr. President, I rise to a 
question of privilege. 

Chair. The gentleman will state his 
question. 

Mr. J. The Janitor has just informed 
me, as Chairman of the House Committee, 
that the Good Templars of this village 
have made application for the use of these 
rooms on every Saturday evening until the 
first of October next. The Committee 
desires instruction from the Association as 
to whether the rooms shall be rented, and 
if so at what rental. Sits. 

Chair. The question is one of privilege. 
What is the pleasure of the Association in 
regard to the renting of these rooms ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 6$ 

Mr. N. gets the floor, I move that the 
rooms of the Association be rented to the 
Good Templars, for their use on all Satur- 
day evenings till the first of October next, 
for the sum of two hundred dollars, to be 
prepaid. Sits. 

Mrs. B. rises. Mr. President, I second 
the motion. Sits. 

Chair rises, states the question, and calls for 
debate : debate follows : amendment is offered to 
strikeout "-prepaid" and insert ''paid on the 
first day of May, " and this is seconded and stated. 

Mrs. A. gets the floor. I move the Pre- 
vious Question. Sits. 

Mrs. L. rises. I second the motion. Sits, 
Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
moved. Those in favor of now closing 
debate will say aye. — Those opposed will 
say no. — The vote is unanimously affirma- 
tive and debate is closed. The question is 
now upon agreeing to the amendment, to 
strike out "prepaid ' and insert "paid on the 
first day of May." Those agreeing to this 
amendment will say aye.-Th.osQ opposed will 
say no.-The noes have it and the amendment 
is not agreed to. The privileged question 



164 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

will now be put to vote. Those in favor of 
renting the rooms of the Association to the 
Good Templars of this village for their use 
on all Saturday evenings till the first of Oct- 
ober next, for the sum of two hundred dol- 
lars, to be prepaid, will raise the right hand. 
The Secretary will count.-The count ismade. 
Those opposed will manifest it in the same 
manner. — The count is made. — Secretary 
gives result to Chair. — The noes have it and 
the motion is lost. 

The question is again on the amendment 
to the principal motion. Those agreeing 
to strike out the words ''morning at ten o'- 
clock," and to insert the words, "evening at 
eight o'clock," making the time of the pro- 
posed meeting to be Saturday evening at 
eight o'clock, will say ^7^.- Those not agree- 
ing will say no- The ayes have it and the 
amendment is agreed to. Are there any 
remarks on the amended motion ? Debate 
follows, and is closed by ordering the Previous 
Question. Then the vote is taken on the motion 
for an adj ourned meeting and the motion is carried, 

Mr. R. gets the floor and introduces a motion 
that the Association invite Mrs. X, to give an ad- 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 16$ 

dress at the meeting of June jd. This is seconded^ 
and is stated dy the Chair. Mr. V. has the fioor 
and is speaking. 

Mr. M. rises, Mr. President, I move to 
reconsider the motion to hold an adjourned 
meeting next Saturday evening. Sits. 

Mrs. H. rises. Mr. President, I second the 
motion. Sits. 

Chair. The Secretary will record the 
motion to reconsider the question of an 
adjourned meeting. 

Mr, V. continues his speech. 

Mr. T. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
point of order. 

Chair. The member will state his point 
of order. 

Mr. T. We have a By-law requiring 
the first meeting in each month to be an 
executive meeting, and another rule ex- 
cluding visitors from the executive meet- 
ings. The motion now before the house 
is inconsistent with these rules. -5"//^. 

Chair. The point of order is well taken, 
and the last motion is overruled. 

The reconsideration of the question re- 
lating to an adjourned meeting is now 



1 66 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

in order. The Secretary will read the 
question. 

Secretary rises and reads from the minutes^ 
Mr. A., seconded by Mrs. C, moved that 
when we adjourn we adjourn to meet next 
Saturday morning at ten o'clock. It was 
moved to amend this motion by striking 
out "morning at ten o'clock," and inserting 
"evening at eight o'clock," and this amend- 
ment was adopted. The amended motion, 
that when we adjourn we adjourn to meet 
next Saturday evening at eight o'clock, 
was carried. Sits. 

Chair. Is there any debate on the motion 
to reconsider? 

Mr. M. gets the floor. Since this motion 
was carried I have received a telegram an- 
nouncing the arrival of the Governor of 
the State on Saturday next, and that he 
will address the citizens of this village on 
Saturday evening, in the Stone Church. 
Under these circumstances, the members 
of this Association will doubtless prefer 
being free from duties here on Saturday 
evening. Sits, 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 67 

Chair. Are there any other remarks ? 
If not, the vote will be taken on the motion 
to reconsider. Those in favor of recon- 
sideration will say aye. — Those opposed 
will say no. — The ayes have it and the mo- 
tion now before the house is that when we 
adjourn we adjourn to meet next Saturday 
evening at eight o'clock. 

Mrs. A, gets the floor. I move to amend 
the motion by striking out the word ''Sat- 
urday"and inserting the word ^'Thursday," 
making the time of the meeting to be 
Thursday evening at eight o'clock. Sits, 

Mrs. M. seconds the amendment; the Chair 
states the amendment, asks for debate on it, puts 
it to vote and when it is carried asks for debate 
on the amended ^notion; there being no debate it is 
immediately put to vote, and is carried. 

Mr. K. gets the floor. I move that this 
Association rent for the months of April, 
May, June, July, August and September 
the portion of land known as Forest 
Meadow, to be used as a tennis court by 
members and their guests. Sits, 

Mr. Y. seconds the motion; the Chair states it, 
and calls for debate. 



1 68 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Miss G. gets the floor. I move to amend the 
motion by striking out the words "April, 
May," at the beginning of the names of 
months, and inserting the words "October 
and November," at the end. Sits. 

This is seconded, stated, and debated. 

Mr. Y. gets the floor. I move that this 
question be considered informally. This is 
seconded y and stated. 

Miss E. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
point of order. 

Chair. The lady will state her point of 
order. 

Miss E. There is an amendment before 
the assembly, and the motion to consider 
informally is therefore not in order. 

Chair. The point of order is not well 
taken. 

Miss E. I appeal from the decision of 
the Chair. Sits. 

Mr. Q. rises. I second the appeal. Sits. 

Chair rises. The decision of the Chair on 
the point of order is appealed from, and the 
question now before the assembly is, shall 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 69 

the decision of the Chair stand as the judg- 
ment of the assembly ? The Chair con- 
siders that the incidental motion as to me- 
thod of consideration, being immediately 
applicable, outranks the motion to amend. 
Miss E. has the floor. Stfs. 

Miss E. does not take the floor. 

Chair. Is there any discussion ? 

Mr. B. gets the floor. I move the Previous 
Question. Sits. 

Mr. J. rises. I second the motion. Sits, 

Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
moved. Those in favor of now closing debate 
on the appeal will say aye. — Those opposed 
will say no. — The ayes have it and debate 
is closed. Shall the decision of the Chair 
stand as the judgment of the assembly ? 
Those sustaining the judgment of the 
Chair will say aye. — Those opposed will 
say no. — The ayes have it and the judg- 
ment of the Chair is sustained. 

The vote will now be taken on the mo- 
tion to consider informally the question of 
renting Forest Meadow. — Those in favor 
of informal consideration will say aye.-^ 



I/O PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

Those opposed will say no. — The noes have 

it and the question will not be considered 
informally. Debate is now in order, upon 

the offered amendment, to strike out the 

words ''April, May," and insert the words 

"October and Novemt er." Sits. 

Mr. H. gets the floor. May is one of the 
best months for out-of-door games. I move 
to amend the amendment by striking out 
the word "May." Sits. 

The motion is seconded, stated, debated, voted 
upon and carried. The proposed amendment is 
further amended by striking out '■'■November." 

Chair rises. If there be no further debate 
on the amended amendment it will be put 
to vote. Will the assembly agree to strike 
out the word "April," and insert the word 
"October ? " — This amendment is adopted. 

The question now before the assembly is 
the amended motion, that this Association 
rent for the months of May, June, July> 
August, September and October, the por- 
tion of land known as Forest Meadow, to 
be used as a tennis-court by members and 
their guests. Is there further debate ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I7I 

Mrs. F. gets the floor, I move to postpone 
this question till next Thursday evening at 
half past eight o'clock. Sits. 

This is seconded, stated, and is carried, 

Mr. F. rises. I move that we do now 
adjourn. Sits. 

This is seconded, stated, put to vote and carried. 



1/2 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

The answers to the following questions 
may be found in, or derived from, the 
text, and all students should be able 
to correctly reply to any of them. 

1. What distinguishes a main question 
from all other questions ? 

2. How is a main question properly in- 
troduced ? 

3. Under what circumstances may the 
Chair refuse to state a main question ? 

4. Give several reasons for the require- 
ment that motions shall be seconded 
before being stated by the Chair ? 

5. What is the correct way of seconding 
a motion ? 

6. What is meant by stating a motion ? 

7. What does the Chair say immediately 
after the stating of any main question ? 

8. At what time does the Chair stand ? 

9. Is every main question debatable ? 

10. Is every main question amendable? 

11. What is meant by the t^rms getting the 
floor and giving the floor ? 

12. What advantages accrue to the assem- 
bly through the Chair being able to 
give the floor at his option ? 

13. Can the Chair be called to order on 
g,ccount of giving the floor to another 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I 73 

member than the one who first rises to 
speak ? 

14. What redress has the assembly if the 
Chair abuse his power, or use it in the 
service of a faction ? 

15. Does the seconder get the floor? 

16. Is it necessary for every speaker in 
debate to get the floor ? 

17. Give rules governing speakers in de- 
^bate. 

18. What is the purpose of debate? 

19. After a main question has been intro- 
duced, how can it be removed from 
before the assembly ? 

20. When a vote is taken by common or 
general consent, what does the Chair 
say in taking the vote ? 

21. Is there any difference between a 
unanimous vote and a vote by general 
consent? 

22. When is an officer of government elect- 
ed by a plurality vote ? 

23. Give examples of a two-thirds nega- 
tive vote, and of a four-fifths affirma- 
tive vote. 

24. What does the Chair say in taking a 
vote by acclamation ? 

25. How does the Chair announce the re- 

It of a vote taken by acclamation ? 



1 74 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

26. Can any other than a majority vote be 
determined by acclamation ? 

27. What is a division of the house ^ and how 
may it be accomplished ? 

28. What does the Chair say when taking 
a vote by the raising of hands ? 

29. What is the purpose in taking a vote 
by yeas and nays ? 

30. Describe in full the process of taking 
a vote by yeas and nays. 

31. Can a vote taken by yeas and nays be 
reconsidered ? 

32* When does the Chair vote, if the vote 
be taken by yeas and nays ? 

33. What distinguishes the vote by ballot 
from all other methods of voting ? 

34. What is the work of Tellers in the 
taking of a vote ? 

35* What is the work of Inspectors when 
a vote is by ballot ? 

36. Describe the process of taking a vote 
by ballot. 

37. Mention nine or more methods of 
voting, and for each method state cir- 
cumstances under which that method 
would be expedient. 

38. Is it ever proper for the Chair to omit 
taking the negative vote ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 75 

39. May the mover vote against his own 
motion ? 

40. May the mover or the seconder speak 
against the motion ? 

41. May the mover amend his own mo- 
tion ? 

42. If there were a tie in a vote taken by 
ballot, would the Chair then have a 
casting vote ? 

43. May a vote taken by ballot be recon- 
sidered ? 

44. May any vote taken for an election be 
reconsidered ? 

45. May any vote be reconsidered later 
than the day on which it was taken ? 

46. May any vote be reconsidered if action 
consequent upon the vote has followed 
it? 

47. Mention votes that would be a tie, 
and votes that would show a majority 
of one. 

48. When the vote is a tie, is the motion 
carried or lost ? 

49. If the Chair votes when there is a tie, 
on which side does the Chair vote? 

50. What does the Chair say when voting 
to make a tie ? 

51. What is the meaning of the casting vote .? 



1^6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

52. If there be a majority of more than 
one, can the vote of the Chair affect 
the result ? 

53. Give examples in which the vote of 
the Chair turns the result from affirm- 
ative to negative, and others in 
which it turns the result from nega- 
tive to affirmative. 

54. Give examples in which the vote of 
the Chair changes the result in a vote 
upon the Question of Consideration. 

55. Give examples in which the vote of 
the Chair changes the result in a vote 
upon the Previous Question. 

56. Give examples in which the vote of 
the Chair changes the result in a vote 
upon the suspension of a rule. 

57. Give examples in which the vote of 
the Chair changes the result in a vote 
upon the main question. 

58. When is a question said to h^ pending 1 

59. Is the vote of the Chair more powerful 
than the vote of any other member ? 

60. Is every member required to vote ? 

61. Can a question be determined, affirm- 
atively or negatively, when only one 
member votes upon it ? 

62. How many questions are there that 
are permitted to interrupt a speaker to 
whom the floor has been given ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. \*Jj 

6^. What justification has each of these 
questions for interrupting a speaker? 

64. How many questions require more 
than a majority vote for their deter- 
mination ? 

65. What justification has each of these 
questions for requiring more than a 
majority ? 

dd. How many ways are there of perma- 
nently getting rid of a main question, 
other than by a direct negative vote 
upon it ? 

67. How many ways are there of tempo- 
rarily getting rid of a main question ? 

68. How many motions are classified as 
subsidiary ? 

69. How many of the subsidiary motions 
are applicable to any other question 
than the main question ? 

70. Which subsidiary motion applies to 
nolhing beside the main question ? 

71. Is the Question of Consideration ever 
raised by a supporter of the main 
question ? 

73. How long may the first speaker in 
debate continue to speak, before the 
Question of Consideration becomes 
inadmissible ? 

73. Before debate had begun and as soon 
as the main question was stated by 



1/8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

the Chair, the motion to commit was 
made, seconded, and stated by the 
Chair. Might the Question of Consi- 
deration be then raised ? 

74. As soon as the main question was 
stated, the motion to lay on the table 
w^as made, seconded, and stated. Was 
it then too late to raise the Question 
of Consideration ? 

75. As soon as the main question was 
stated, a question of order was raised 
as to conflict between the main ques- 
tion and the standing rules. This 
question of order was settled in the 
negative. Was it then too late to raise 
the Question of Consideration? 

76. As soon as the main question was 
stated, a motion was made to divide 
the main question, and the motion for 
division was voted upon and lost. Was 
it then too late to raise the Question of 
Consideration ? 

77. As soon as the main question was 
stated, Mr. A. moved to amend, and 
this was seconded ; Mr. B. moved to 
postpone to a certain time, and this 
was seconded ; Mr. C. moved to lay on 
the table, and this was seconded, and 
Mr. D. raised the Question of Consi- 
deration. Which of these subsidiary 
motions should the Chair first state ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 79 

78. What justifies an assembly's refusal to 
consider a question properly intro- 
duced, and not in conflict with its 
rules ? 

79. Can the Chair alone decide that a 
question shall not be considered ? 

80. If there were twenty-four members in 
an assembly how many would need to 
vote affirmatively in order to secure 
consideration of the question ? 

81. If the Question of Consideration were 
raised and nine voted in favor of con- 
sideration, how many would have to 
vote no in order to prevent considera- 
tion ? 

82. If the Question of Consideration were 
raised, and seven voted affirmatively, 
and fourteen voted negatively, how 
could the Chair secure consideration 
for the question ? 

83. If the Question of Consideration were 
raised, and fourteen voted affirma- 
tively, and twenty-seven voted nega- 
tively, how could the Chair prevent 
the consideration of the question ? 

84. What does the Chair say when an- 
nouncing the result of a vote on the 
Question of Consideration ? 

85. What becomes of a question that the 
assembly refuses to consider ? 



l80 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

S6. Why is a question that the assembly 
has refused to consider recorded in 
the minutes as thus disposed of ? 

87. When the Question of Consideration 
has been stated by the Chair, can it be 
superseded by any other question? 

88. When an assembly has decided to 
consider a question, and has begun to 
consider it, either by debating it, or 
by applying any other subsidiary mo- 
tion or any incidental motion to it, 
may the assembly then reconsider its 
vote on the Question of Consideration ? 

89. The Chair has stated thatthe Question 
of Consideration is raised. Is the mo- 
tion to adjourn at that instant in order ? 

90. What power has a unanimous vote? 

91. How soon may the assembly take up a 
question that it has laid on the table ? 

92. If a question laid on the table is not 
taken up before the end of the session, 
what becomes of it ? 

93. What is the difference between a 
meeting and a session ? 

94. What is the smallest number of meet- 
ings that may be in a session ? 

95. What is said by the mover of the mo- 
tion to lay on the table ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. l8l 

96. What does the Chair say when taking 
the vote upon the motion to lay on the 
table ? 

97. If the motion to lay on the table is 
carried when amendments are pending, 
what becomes of the amendments ? 

98. Can any amendment be laid on the 
table without laying the main ques- 
tion on the table ? 

99. If the motion to lay on the table were 
made, and then a motion to suspend a 
rule were made, which of these two 
motions should the Chair state ? 

100. If the motion to lay on the table had 
been stated, and at that moment a 
member rose to a point of order, what 
should the Chair then do ? 

loi. If the motion to lay on the table had 
been stated, and at that moment a 
member moved to adjourn, and the 
latter motion were seconded, what 
should the Chair then do ? 

102. Mention several reasons why the 
friends of a proposition might wish to 
lay it on the table. 

103. Mention several reasons why the ene- 
mies of a measure might wish to lay it 
on the table. 

104. Is the motion to take from the table 
made by the friends or by the enemies 
of the measure ? 



1 82 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

105. What is the condition of a question 
when taken from the table ? 

106. What is said by the mover of a motion 
to take from the table ? 

107. If a member says, " I move to lay this 
question on the table until our next 
meeting," and this is seconded, how 
should the Chair state the motion? 

108. How many times can a question be 
laid on the table and again taken up ? 

109. If a motion to lay on the table is lost, 
how soon may it be again made ? 

no. If a motion to lay on the table is nega- 
tively dtci^td^ can that negative vote be 
reconsidered, and if so, what is the 
limit of the time within which it can 
be reconsidered ? 

111. When a motion to lay on the table is 
affirmatively decided, why may the vote 
not be reconsidered ? 

112. Who may move to take a question 
from the table ? 

113. When may a question be taken from 
the table? 

114. What vote is required in taking a 
question from the table ? 

115. Is the motion to take from the table 
debatable or amendable? 

116. Why cannot an affirmative vott to take 
from the table be reconsidered ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 83 

117. How soon may a negative vote on the 
motion to take from the table be recon- 
sidered ? 

118. What is the difference in effect be- 
, tween the motion to lay on the table 

and the motion to postpone to a certain 
time ? 

119. What is the difference in effect between 
the motion to lay on the table and the 
motion to postpone indefinitely ? 

120. What may be said by a member who 
thinks further debate unprofitable? 

121. When the Previous Question is moved 
without specification or limitation by 
the mover, to what does it apply ? 

122. To what questions may the Previous 
Question be applied ? 

•123. To what questions may the motion to 
lay on the table be applied ? 

124. To what questions may the motion to 
take from the table be applied ? 

125. How many debatable questions are 
there ? 

126. Are any of the incidental questions 
debatable? 

127. Is any privileged motion debatable ? 

128. May any question of privilege be de- 
bated before the Chair or the assembly 
has decided that it shall be privileged ? 



184 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

129. May the Previous Question be applied 
to debate on an appeal ? 

130. May the Previous Question be applied 
to the motion to reconsider? 

131. Which of the seven subsidiary mo- 
tions are debatable ? 

132. What is the difference in the degree of 
debatability of the subsidiary motions ? 

133. What determines the degree of the 
debatability of any subsidiary motion ? 

134. Why is it necessary to be able to shut 
off debate ? 

135. Should subsidiary motions be written 
when made? 

136. What motions other than the main 
question should be presented in writing ? 

137. By what vote is debate closed in the 
British Parliament ? 

138. Why is a larger vote required in the 
United States ? 

139. Is the motion to close debate debat- 
able ? 

140. Suppose the Previous Question to have 
been ordered on the motion that 
the Society deposit its funds in the 
H. B. Bank, and at that instant a 
member opens a telegram warning him 
that the H. B. Bank is unsound. How 
can a member in a parliamentary man- 
ner prevent the deposit of the funds in 
the unsound bank ? 



MRLIAMfiNTARY PROCEDURE. 1 85 

141. May the motion to reconsider an un- 
debatable question be debated ? 

142* Should debate be closed before it has 
been exhaustive ? 

143. May all debate be forestalled by or- 
dering the Previous Question ? 

144. May the introducer of a proposition 
include in it the motion that it be 
adopted without debate ? 

145. How could such a proposition be made 
debatable ? 

146. What motions equal the Previous 
Question in rank ? 

147. If an amendment to an amendment 
were pending, and the Previous Ques- 
tion were ordered without limitation, 
in what order would the questions then 
before the assembly be voted upon ? 

148. Is the motion to adjourn in order 
when the Previous Question is pend- 
ing? 

149. Is the request for the reading of a 
paper in order when the Previous 
Question is pending? 

150. Is a motion to suspend a rule in order 
when the Previous Question is pend- 
ing ? 

151. Is the Question of Consideration in 
order when the Previous Question is 
pending ? 



1 86 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

152. After the Previous Question has been 
ordered, may the main question be laid 
on the table ? 

153. After the debate on the main ques- 
tion has been closed by vote, may the 
main question be postponed to a cer- 
tain time ? 

154. After debate on the main question 
has been closed by vote, may any one 
debate that question ? 

155. After the Previous Question is or- 
dered, and before the vote on the 
main question is taken, is it in order 
to move to adjourn ? 

156. If debate on the main question were 
closed by vote, and adjournment were 
effected before the question had been 
put to vote, when would the question 
be voted upon? 

157. On the motion to close debate there 
are 21 ayes and 11 noes. The Chair 
does not approve of present closing of 
the debate. What does the Chair say 
in announcing the result of the vote ? 

158. What does the Chair say when taking 
a vote on the Previous Question ? 

159. Is the main question always put as 
soon as debate upon it is closed ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 87 

160. If the Chair called for a vote on the 
question, '' Shall the Mai?i Question be 
now put 1 " and the vote thereupon were 
affirmative, could the assembly adjourn 
before voting upon the main question? 

161. What subsidiary motions may be ap- 
plied to the main question after the 
ordering of the Previous Question ? 

162. What Privileged Questions may be 
introduced after ordering the closure 
of debate and before taking the vote 
on the main question ? 

163. What incidental questions may be in- 
troduced in the interval between the 
closure of debate on the main question 
and the putting of that question to 
vote ? 

164. May a question be divided after debate 
upon it has been closed ? 

165. If divided, would the separate parts 
be then debatable ? 

166. If debate were closed on a motion to 
postpone to a certain time, is debate 
on the main question closed also ? 

167. Mention several reasons for fixing the 
time when a question shall be taken 
up. 

168. After a motion to postpone to a cer- 
tain time has been stated, may the 
main question be then debated ? 



1 38 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

169. What is always the subject of debate ? 

170. To what extent may the motion to 
postpone to a certain time be debated ? 

171. To what extent may a motion to post- 
pone to a certain time be amended ? 

172. For what length of time may a ques- 
tion be postponed ? 

173. May a question be postponed to a 
time when there is no meeting ? 

174. When a question is postponed and is 
not taken up before the end of the ses- 
sion, what becomes of it ? 

175. Within what length of time may the 
vote on a motion to postpone be recon- 
sidered ? 

176. May a question postponed to a certain 
time be taken up before that time 
arrives ? 

177. When the time to which a question 
was postponed has arrived, what is 
that question called ? 

178. Why is it so called ? 

179. If the Chair does not bring forward 
the order of the day, how may any 
member secure attention for the post- 
poned business ? 

180. What is the rank of a call for the 
order of the day ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 89 

181. What maybe said by any member who 
prefers going on with business already 
under consideration ? 

182. What does the Chair say when ascer- 
taining the will of the assembly in 
relation to the business to which it 
shall first attend ? 

183. What becomes of business to which 
present consideration is denied ? 

184. If different questions have been post- 
poned, and have not been reached at 
the times set for them, in what order 
must they be taken up ? 

185. If the assembly desires to reach 
quickly a certain piece of business, 
what can it do with the questions that 
come before it, in orders of the day ? 

186. How is an assembly protected from 
dull and prolix debaters? 

187. Who should enforce the special rule 
limiting the time of each speaker in 
debate ? 

188. What is the difference in the effect of 
the two motions: to postpone to a cer- 
tain day, and to postpone indefinitely ? 

189. Is the motion to postpone to a certain 
time made by the friends or by the 
enemies of the proposition ? 

190. How many times can the same ques- 
tion be made an order of the day ? 



190 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

191. Who may call for an order of the day ? 

192. May an order of the day, after being 
taken up, be referred to a committee, 
or postponed indefinitely ? 

193. If the Chair decides that a certain 
question shall be taken up, and a mem- 
ber thinks that some other question 
should be first brought forward, how 
is the difference of opinion settled ? 

194. Is an appeal relating to priority of 
business debatable ? 

195. How is every disputed question set- 
tled ? 

196. What is a committee ? 

197. Which is paramount, the committee or 
the assembly ? 

198. Mention five kinds of committees, and 
define each kind. 

199. Mention four ways in which a com- 
mittee may be created. 

200. Give the form of a motion by which 
the committee is to be appointed by 
the chair. 

2oi» Give the form of a resolution naming 
the members of a committee. 

202. Give the form of an amendment 
changing the names of members in a 
committee created by resolution. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I9I 

203. Give the form of a motion for the 
creation of a committee by nomination 
from the floor and election by acclama- 
tion. 

204. Give the form of a motion for refer- 
ence to a committee chosen by ballot, 

205. Give the form of a motion for refer- 
ence to a committee of five nominated 
from the floor and elected by plurality 
vote by ballot. 

206. Give the form of a motion for creat- 
ing a committee of seven, four of 
whom shall be nominated from the 
floor and elected by acclamation, and 
three of whom shall be appointed by 
the Chair. 

207. To what extent is the motion to refer 
to a committee debatable ? 

208. In what ways may a motion to refer 
to a committee be amended ? 

209. If a motion to refer to a committee 
had been stated, and at that moment 
the motion to lay on the table were 
made, voted upon and carried, what 
would become of the motion to refer 
to a committee ? 

210. If amendments are pending when a 
motion is referred to a committee, 
what becomes of the pending amend- 
ments ? 



192 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

211. Who is the temporary Chairman of a 
committee ? 

212. Who is the permanent Chairman of a 
committee ? 

213. What are the duties of a Chairman of 
committee ? 

214. What are the duties of a Secretary in 
a committee ? 

215. May a committee act by separate as- 
sent ? 

216. If sub-committees are formed, where 
are they formed and to whom do they 
report ? 

217. What is the rule governing the num- 
ber in a committee ? 

218. Must the mover and seconder of a 
motion be members of a committee to 
which that motion is referred ? 

219. What number is a quorum in a com- 
mittee ? 

220. A committee of five was created for 
the nomination of officers, and was in- 
structed to report at the next meeting. 
In the interval between meetings, two 
went to Europe ; what should the re- 
maining members do ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 93 

221. A committee of three was appointed 
to nominate officers, and to report at 
the next meeting. Before the report 
of this committee was signed, two of 
the members resigned from the com- 
mittee. What should the remaining 
member do ? 

222. A standing committee of three was 
created, with the duty of attending to 
the decoration of the Club Rooms. 
This committee took no action. What 
should the assembly do ? 

223. Should all members of a committee 
sign the report ? 

224. What is meant by a minority report, 
and under what conditions may it be 
made? 

225. Who presents the report of a commit- 
tee to an assembly ? 

226. What is the reception of a report ? 

227* What is the difference between accept- 
ing a report and adopting a report ? 

228. What is the difference between receiv- 
ing a report and accepting a report ? 

229. Who presents the report of the com- 
mittee ? 

230. What is the smallest number of copies 
that should be made for presentation ? 



194 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

231. When papers have been handed to a 
committee for examination, revision 
or amendment, how should the papers 
be used by the committee ? 

232* When a member desires to delay the 
reception of the report of a committee 
what question may he raise ? 

233. What does the Chair say when desir- 
ing to ascertain the wishes of the assem- 
bly concerning the immediate recep- 
tion of a report ? 

234. Are the meetings of a committee open 
to other members ? 

235. Is the Presiding Officer a member of 
all committees ? 

236. In calling a committee-meeting, should 
every member of the committee be 
notified of the meeting ? 

237. Are there any Boards or Committees 
in which it isnecessary for every mem- 
ber to be present, in order to legally 
transact business ? 

238. Mention many advantages derived 
from referring business to commit- 
tees. 

239. May a committee determine the time 
and place of its own meetings ? 

240. Are the minutes of a committee- 
meeting to be used outside the com- 
mittee ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 95 

241. What is the degree of formality in the 
proceedings of a committee ? 

242. In committee-meeting are members 
limited as to time in speaking, or as to 
the number of times they may speak 
in debate ? 

243. Does a committee ever adjourn ? 

244. When a committee makes its report, 
who is first entitled to the floor in 
debate ? 

245. What motions may be made in Com- 
mittee of the Whole ? 

246. Who presides over a Committee of 
the Whole ? 

247. Who makes to the assembly the re- 
port of the Committee of the Whole ? 

248. Is the vote ever taken by yeas and nays 
in Committee of the Whole ? 

249. Who acts as Secretary in Committee 
of the Whole ? 

250. If the assembly has a rule limiting 
speakers in debate to — minutes, does 
this rule also govern the Committee of 
the Whole ? 

251. What are the advantages derived from 
going into Committee of the Whole ? 

252. What is the form of the motion for 
Committee of the Whole ? 



196 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

253* Can a committee reconsider its own 
votes ? 

254. If papers had been transferred to a 
committee, could the assembly recon- 
sider the vote which occasioned the 
transfer of papers to the committee ? 

255. How could the assembly at once re- 
cover papers transferred to a commit- 
tee ? 

256. If amendments are pending when a 
motion to refer to a committee is agreed 
to, what becomes of the amendments ? 

257. If a motion to recommit has been 
stated and a member then moves to 
postpone to a certain day, what should 
the Chair do ? 

258. What power has a committee? 

259. If the report of a committee is lengthy, 
what should be done previous to its 
acceptance ? 

360. Can a report be amended after it is 
adopted ? 

261. What subsidiary motions may be ap- 
plied to the report of a committee? 

262. May the motion for the division of the 
question be applied to the report of a 
committee ? 

263. When the report ofacommittee is pre- 
sented, who first reads it ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. Ip/ 

264. If the report is considered seriatim, 
who reads the sections or paragraphs 
in their order? 

265. Has the report of a committee the 
status of a main question ? 

266 Can the vote upon the acceptance of a 
report be reconsidered? 

267. Is the motion " that the report of the 
committee be accepted'' a debatable ques- 
tion ? 

268. When the report is considered seriatim 
should the sections which are separ- 
ately considered be separately voted 
upon ? 

269. If there have been amendments made 
to the report can it afterward be re- 
jected ? 

270. After a report has been heard by the 
assembly, does it belong to the com- 
mittee that made it or to the assembly? 

271. May a committee with the consent of 
the assembly, withdraw a report that 
has not yet been accepted? 

272. May a committee without the consent 
of the assembly, withdraw a report 
that the assembly has received ? 

273. Mention all differences between the 
reception and treatment of the report 
of a committee, and the statement and 
treatment of any other main question. 



198 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

274. Are there any subsidiary or incidental 
questions that can be applied to any 
main question that cannot be applied 
to the report of a committee? 

275. Can the reception of a report be inter- 
rupted by privileged questions? 

276. Can the consideration of a report be 
interrupted by privileged questions? 

277. When a question has been referred to 
a standing committee, and that com- 
mittee has made its report thereupon, 
has the standing committee further 
control over that question ? 

278. When does a special committee cease 
to exist ? 

279. When does a standing committee 
cease to exist ? 

280. What right has every committee, not 
hampered by a rule of the assembly, 
concerning its Chairman ? 

28 r. May a committee offer a substitute for 
any paper referred to it ? 

282. Who decides when a committee shall 
report? 

283. May a committee hold its meetings at 
the same time with the assembly ? 

284. May a committee make a report which 
is partial^ and then continue its work 
until a final, report is rendered ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 99 

285* Has the member of a committee who 
presents its report, a right to close, as 
well as to open, the debate on the re- 
port ? 

286. When the work of a committee has 
been that of investigation only, with a 
view to informing the assembly con- 
cerning the subject of inquiry, should 
any motion for the acceptance of its 
report be made ? 

287. What is the practical effect of the ac- 
ceptance of any report ? 

288. Are Boards of Managers, Boards of 
Trustees, and Executive Boards, gov- 
erned by the same general rules as are 
committees ? 

289. May the motion for indefinite post- 
ponement be applied to the report of a 
committee ? 

290. To what may the motion to commit or 
to recommit be applied ? 

291. To what extent may the motion to 
commit be debated or amended ? 

292. To what may the motion to postpone 
indefinitely be applied ? 

293. May this motion be in any way 
amended ? 

294. May the main question be debated 
after the motion to postpone it in- 
definitely has been introduced > 



200 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

295. What becomes of a question that is 
indefinitely postponed ? 

296. May debate be closed on the motion 
to postpone indefinitely, without clos- 
ing debate on the main question ? 

297. When the motion for indefinite post- 
ponement is pending, may the assem- 
bly consent to the withdrawal of the 
main question ? 

298. Would the motion for the division of 
the question be in order while the mo- 
tion for indefinite postponement was 
pending? 

299. May a question be laid on the table 
while the motion for indefinite post- 
ponement is pending ? 

300. Are privileged questions in order when 
a motion for the indefinite postpone- 
ment is pending? 

301. What incidental questions would be in 
order while the motion for indefinite 
postponement was pending ? 

302. If an objectionable question has been 
debated, what is the best way of re- 
moving it from the assembly ? 

303. Is the motion for indefinite postpone- 
ment ever made by a friend of the 
proposition ? 

304. What has been gained by the enemies 
of a measure when the motion for in- 
definite postponement has been nega- 
tively decided ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 20I 

305. When a proposition is but partially 
satisfactory what may be done with it ? 

306. How many methods of amendment 
are established ? 

307. What should be done with a badly con 
structed proposition ? 

308. State the form of an amendment to 
be made by striking out words. 

309. State the form of an amendment to be 
made by inserting words. 

310. State the form of an amendment to be 
made by striking out words and insert- 
ing other words. 

311. What does the Chair say when put- 
ting an amendment to vote ? 

312. What does the Chair say when an- 
nouncing the result of a vote upon 
an amendment ? 

313. In how many ways can an amend- 
ment be amended ? 

314. Give an example of an amendment 
made by striking out in an amendment 
to be made by striking out. 

315. Give an example of an amendment 
made by inserting in an amendment 
to be made by striking out. 

316. Give an example of an amendment 
made by striking out and inserting in 
an amendment to be made by striking 
out. 



202 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

317. Give an example of an amendment 
made by striking out in a proposed 
amendment by insertion. 

318. Give an example of an amendment 
made by inserting in a proposed 
amendment by insertion. 

319. Give an example of an amendment 
made by striking out and inserting in a 
proposed amendment by insertion. 

320. Give an example of an amendment by 
striking out in a proposed amendment 
by striking out and inserting. 

321. Give an example of an amendment by 
inserting in a proposed amendment by 
striking out and inserting. 

322. Give an example of an amendment by 
striking out and inserting in a proposed 
amendment by striking out and insert- 
ing. 

323. When an amendment to an amend- 
ment is before the assembly, what is 
first voted upon ? 

324. How many times may a proposition be 
amended ? 

325. How many times may an amend- 
ment be amended ? 

326. How many amendments may be be- 
fore the assembly at one time ? 

327. May an amended amendment be re- 
jected ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 203 

328. May an amended motion be rejected? 

329. Is it politic for those who will vote neg- 
atively on the main question, to debate 
and vote upon offered amendments ? 

330. May a member vote against an amend- 
ment offered by himself ? 

331. If an amendment has been stated, 
can the Question of Consideration be 
raised ? 

332. What subsidiary motions may be made 
when an amendment is pending ? 

333. What privileged questions may be in- 
troduced when an amendment is pend- 
ing? 

334. What incidental questions may be in- 
troduced when an amendment is pend- 
ing? 

335. To what may the motion to amend be 
applied ? 

336. How can words that have been insert- 
ed be taken out ? 

337. How can words that have been taken 
out be inserted ? 

338. If in a completed measure something 
has been inserted by an amendment to 
an amendment, and afterward it is de- 
sired to take out what has been inserted, 
how many times would the motion to 
reconsider have to be made and car- 
ried in order to take out what w^s irj- 
§erted f 



204 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

339. How can a whole paragraph that re- 
quires much amendment, be soonest 
amended ? 

340. When a substitute is offered, by what 
process is it made to supersede the 
original paragraph, section or bill ? 

341. Describe the process of filling a blank 
in a proposition. 

342. How is a blank filled when an amount 
is to be determined ? 

343. How is a blank filled when length of 
time is to be determined ? 

344. How is a blank filled when a name is to 
be chosen ? 

345. What gives a question the right to 
supersede, for a time, the business be- 
fore the assembly ? 

346. What are Privileged Questions ? 

347. Which privileged motion has highest 
rank, and why has it this rank ? 

348. When the intention is that of dissolv- 
ing the assembly in what form should 
the motion be made ? 

349. When the intention is to hold an ad- 
journed meeting in what form should 
the motion be made, and at what time 
should it be made ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 205 

350. When no time for the next meeting 
has been fixed, and the mover desires 
to have that time fixed, what is the 
proper form of the motion ? 

351. Mention all the times when it is not 
in order to move ** that when we ad- 
journ we adjourn to m-eet,'^ etc. 

352. Mention all the times when it is «^/ 
in order to move to adjourn. 

353. In what way can the motion fixing 
the time of the next meeting be 
amended ? 

354. May the amendment to the mo- 
tion to fix the time to which to ad- 
journ, be debated ? 

355. In introducing privileged motions, 
should the introducer get the floor ? 

356. If the motion to adjourn is made 
when no business is before the assem- 
bly is it then a privileged motion ? 

357. If the rules fix the time to adjourn, or 
if there is no further business to be 
brought forward, what is the best 
method of taking the vote on adjourn- 
ment? 

358. What is the proper form of the mo^ 
tion to adjourn ? 



206 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

359. What effect has adjournment on busi- 
ness before the assembly at the time 
of adjournment? 

360. May privileged questions interrupt 
subsidiary questions ? 

361. Under what conditions may incidental 
questions be applied to privileged ques- 
tions ? 

362. Do incidental questions ever yield to 
privileged questions ? 

363. Give an example in which a privileged 
motion is superseded by an incidental 
question. 

364. Give examples in which incidental 
questions yield to privileged questions. 

365. Is a motion to take a recess privileged 
if the time of the recess has not been 
fixed? 

366. May a motion for a recess be intro- 
duced under a question of privilege ? 

367. What is meant by a question of privi- 
lege? 

368. How is a question of privilege intro- 
duced ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 207 

369. If a Speaker yields the floor to a 
question of privilege, has he the right 
to resume his speech when the ques- 
tion of privilege is disposed of? 

370. What does the Chair say when ren- 
dering a decision concerning a question 
of privilege ? 

371. In what way may the member who 
wishes to introduce a question of privi- 
lege seek redress from what he be- 
lieves to be an unjust decision of the 
Chair? 

372. When a question has been introduced 
as one of privilege what is done with 
it? 

373. If the Chair says '* The question is one 
of privilege " what does the Chair say 
next ? 

374. If the Chair says " The question is not 
one of privilege " and no appeal is 
taken, what is next done ? 

375. What becomes of the main question 
if a question of privilege occupies all 
the time until adjournment ? 

376. What is an incidental question ? 



208 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

377. Can any action be taken on any ques- 
tion that was pending when an inci- 
dental question was entertained, before 
the incidental question is itself decided ? 

378. If the incidental question is immedi- 
ately applicable, may it precede a sub- 
sidiary question ? 

379. Mention incidental questions that arise 
out of and have precedence over sub- 
sidiary questions. 

380. Give an example in which a question 
of order supersedes the question of 
consideration. 

381. Give an example in which an amend- 
ment yields to the reading of a paper. 

382. Give an example in which the motion 
to lay on the table yields to the mo- 
tion to suspend a rule. 

383. Give an example in which an amend- 
ment yields to a request to withdraw 
the motion. 

384. Can the motion for the division of the 
question be applied to an amendment ? 

385. May incidental questions arise out of 
privileged questions ? 

386. Is any incidental question debatable? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 20g 

387. Which incidental question may inter- 
rupt a speaker ? 

388. Which incidental question has a higher 
rank than any other ? 

389. Is there any time when the question 
of order cannot be raised ? 

390. What does a member mean to declare 
when he says "/ rise to a point of 
order " ? 

391. What should the Chair say when a 
member rises to a point of order ? 

392. Who first decides whether Parliament- 
ary Law has been departed from ? 

393. Why is it necessary for every deliber- 
ative body to adopt a Parliamentary 
standard ? 

394. What may the Chair do if he desires 
advice concerning a point of order ? 

395. When must a point of order be raised, 
if raised at all ? 

396. What may any member do if dissatis- 
fied with the decision of the Chair on 
a point of order ? 

397. When a member uses unparliament- 
ary language in debate, what should 
be done ? 



210 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

398. May the Chair call a member to 
order ? 

399. When a member is called to order 
what should he first do ? 

400. State the method of proceeding against 
a refractory member who has been 
called to order for using unparliament- 
ary language. 

401. Describe the process of calling for 
the order or orders of the day. 

402. Who makes the orders of the day ? 

403. By what method are orders of the day 
made ? 

404. What is a special order of the day ? 

405. May permission to read papers be 
given for a future time ? 

406. Is a request for permission to read a 
paper in debate an incidental question? 

407. Who may ask the consent of the as- 
sembly for the withdrawal of a 
motion ? 

408. At what moment does ownership of a 
motion pass from the mover to the 
assembly ? 

409. State the form of a request for with- 
drawal of the motion. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 211 

410. How does the Chair announce the 
vote on the request for withdrawal of 
the motion ? 

411. May the vote be reconsidered after the 
mover has withdrawn the motion ? 

412. May a question of privilege be with- 
drawn ? 

413. Why can not a motion to suspend the 
rules be reconsidered ? 

414. May the Constitution or the By-Laws 
be suspended ? 

415. Who makes the Special Rules of an 
assembly ? 

416. Give an example in which the vote of 
the Chair prevents the suspension of a 
rule. 

417. Give examples of rules that might re- 
quire sudden suspension. 

418. May a rule be suspended more than 
once for the same purpose at the same 
meeting ? 

419. What is the form of the motion for 
the suspension of a rule ? 

420. To what is the motion for the division 
of the question applicable ? 



212 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

421. In the division of a question may a 
clause be separately considered ? 

422. If the parts of a proposition are in- 
terdependent can the proposition be di- 
vided ? 

423. Into how many parts may a proposi- 
tion be divided ? 

424. When a proposition is divided, how 
are its parts treated, and in which order 
are they taken up ? 

425. In what way can the motion to divide 
the question be amended ? 

426. Give an example of a divisible propo - 
sition. 

427. If a part of the divided proposition 
has been acted upon, may the vote on 
the motion to divide the proposition 
then be reconsidered ? 

428. May a proposition be divided after it 
has been debated and amended ? 

429. Give examples of motions as to 
method of consideration. 

430. Give examples of amendments offered 
upon motions as to method of con- 
sideration ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 213 

431. If a certain method of consideration 
has been decided upon, and that 
method has been for a time pursued, 
may the method then be changed by- 
reconsideration of the vote ? 

432. How many of the incidental questions 
require a seconder ? 

433. Describe the informal consideration 
of a question. 

434. Describe the method of procedure in 
Committee of the Whole. 

435. Compare these two methods of con- 
sideration and note the points of simi- 
larity and of difference. 

436. Give the form of a motion to extend 
the limit of debate. 

437. Give the form of a motion to limit de- 
bate. 

438. When an appeal is made from the de- 
cision of the Chair, what is said by the 
appealing member ? 

439. To whom is the appeal addressed ? 

440. Why should an appeal be seconded? 

441. When is an appeal debatable ? 

442. Under what circumstances is an ap- 
peal undebatable ? 



214 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

443. When an appeal is debatable who 
first has the floor, and who next has 

the floor ? 

444. May all members debate on an appeal ? 

445. Can the debate on an appeal be 
closed by ordering the Previous Ques- 
tion ? 

446. What does the Chair say when tak- 
ing the vote on an appeal ? 

447. What does the Chair say when an- 
nouncing the result of a vote on an 
appeal ? 

448. If the vote on an appeal is a tie, is 
the judgment of the Chair sustained ? 

449. On what questions may an appeal 
from the ruling of the Chair be made ? 

450. May an appeal be laid on the table? 

451. May more than one appeal be con- 
sidered at one time ? 

452. May privileged questions interrupt an 
appeal ? 

453. What subsidiary questions may be 
applied to an appeal ? 

454. What incidental questions may arise 
during an appeal ? 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21$ 

455. During what time may a vote be re- 
considered ? 

456. Who may move to reconsider? 

457. When is the motion to reconsider de- 
batable and when is it undebatable ? 

458. If any action that cannot be reversed 
has followed as a consequence of a 
vote, can that vote be reconsidered ? 

459. Tell what motions cannot be recon- 
sidered, and why they cannot be re- 
considered ? 

460. What is the rank of the motion to re- 
consider ? 

461. If the motion to reconsider is made 
when other business is pending, what 
is done with the motion ? 

462. Is the motion to reconsider a privi- 
leged motion? 

463. When the motion to reconsider is ap- 
plied to a subsidiary motion, which is 
first decided, the motion to reconsider, 
or the main question ? 

464. May the motion to reconsider be 
made when a member has the floor ? 



2l6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

465. May the motion to reconsider be 
made when a vote is being taken upon 
the motion to adjourn ? 

466. If the motion to reconsider is carried, 
what is the question then before the 
assembly ? 

467. If the Previous Question was ordered 
before the vote was taken on the main 
question, may the main question be 
debated after the vote thereupon is re- 
considered ? 

468. How many times may a vote be re- 
considered ? 

469. To what extent may the main ques- 
tion be debated under the motion to 
reconsider the vote upon it ? 

470. May the Previous Question be ap- 
plied to the motion to reconsider ? 

471. When the Previous Question is 
ordered upon the motion to reconsider, 
does it close debate upon the question 
to be reconsidered? 

472. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
tion of the Question of Consideration. 

473. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
tion of the motion to close debate. 



PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21^ 

474. What vote is required to carry the 
motion to reconsider ? 

475. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
tion of the motion to postpone indefi- 
nitely. 

476. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
tion of a negative vote on the motion 
to lay on the table. 

477. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
tion of the vote upon a main question. 

478. Describe the process of reconsidering 
an amendment after the main question 
has been decided. 

479. Describe the process of reconsidering 
an amendment to an amendment, after 

the main question has been decided. 

480. After a motion for the reconsidera- 
tion of a main question has been 
made, and before the question of re- 
consideration has been acted upon, 
what is the status of the main ques- 
tion ? 

481. Compare the two motions, to recon- 
sider and to rescind, and state the 
points of difference between them. 



2l8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 

482. How long after the decision of a 
question may the action upon that 
question be annulled ? 

483. Has the motion to rescind the status 
of a main question ? 

484. Should it include provision for meet- 
ing obligations incurred by the 
original motion ? 

485. Would it be well to exclude from the 
list of permissible motions, the motion 
to reconsider? 

486. What are the duties of Chairman ? 

487. What duty has the Vice-President ? 

488. What duties has the Treasurer? 

489. What duties has the Clerk ? 

490. What duty has an Auditor ? 

491. What are Tellers ? 

492. What duties have members ? 

493. Who announces all votes ? 

494. Who reads the minutes ? 

495. What is Electioneering ? 

496. What is an Informal Ballot ? 

497. What is a Formal Ballot ? 

498. What constitutes a Quorum ? 

499. What is a Parliamentary Inquiry ? 

500. Who answers such inquiries? 



Index. 

PAGE. 

Acceptance of reports 66, 123 

** '* amendments 78 

Acclamation, vote by 31 

Adjourn, motion to 89 

effect on unfinished business 91 

exceptions to rule 90 

fix the time to which to 87 

form of motion 93 

in committee 61 

rank of motion 11 

renewal of motion to , 93 

Adopt, accept, agree to 66, 133 

Advice on points of order 100 

Amendment 9, 10, 11, 70, 77 

application of motion for 10, 77 

by filling blanks 81 

by inserting 71, 75 

by striking out 71 

by striking out and inserting 73, 76 

by substitution 79 

form of motion for 71 , 79 

of motion to commit 53, 54 

of motion for division of question 109 

of motion for method of consideration. , 109 

of motion to postpone 49 

of time to which to adjourn 88 

rank of motion for 11, 77 

Amendment of an amendment 73, 74 

Amendment of the minutes 41, 141, 143 

Announcing the vote 31, 33, 33, 34, 35 



220 INDEX, 

PAQB. 

Appeal from ruling of the Chair Ill 

on point of order 100 

on questions of privilege 96 

Application of motions 10 

Articles in a Constitution 145 

Assembly, how organized 144, 14^ 

its right to punish members 102 

Ballots and balloting 25, 135, 136, 137 

blank , 25 

blanket 138 

formal 136, 137 

informal 135, 136 

in elections 26, 137 

method of 25 

not to reconsider , 10, 27 

Blanks, how filled 81 

Business, how introduced 13, 15, 17 

order of 149 

priority of 52, 111, 149 

unfinished 91, 149 

By-Laws 147, 148 

cannot be suspended 106 

Call to order 101 

Call for orders of the day 50, 52, 102 

Call the roll 24, 130, 149 

Censure 102 

Chairman 14. 127, 131, 143 

election of 54, 143 

his right to vote 30 

of a committee 54 

of Committee of the Whole 56 

temporary 129, 143 

Classification of motions 9 

Clerk, or recording officer 129 

Closing debate 44, 47 



INDEX. 221 

PAGE. 
Commit, or recommit 9, 10, 55 

} Committee 53 

J action of 63, 64 

I chairman of 54,62, 63 



4 composition of 60, 61 

discharge of 67 

j formation of . . . . 54, 58 

j kinds of 55 

meetings of 62 

nominating 134 

object of 53 

power of 64 

I procedure in 62,63, 64 

quorum in 125 

report from 64, 65 

I rising of 61 

j secretary of 57, 63 

I sub- committees 61 

work of 64 

i Committee of the Whole 56, 62, 110 

j chairman of 56 

1 clerk of 57 

debate in 57 

' motion for 58 

procedure in 57 

quorum in 125 

records of 5 

report from 57 

rising of 57, 61 

Consent, general or unanimous. . » 21 

Consideration, question of 9, 10, 11, 34, 35 

application of 10, 36 

effect of 38 

object of 35 

time of raising 36 

rank of 11, 37 

vote upon 37 



222 INDEX. 

PAOE. 

Consideration, motion as to method of 109 

amendment of motion as to 109 

rank of motion 98 

objection to present 51 

seriatim 65 

Consider informally 58 

Constitution 106, 144 

amendment of 106, 146 

cannot be suspended 106 

necessary articles in 145 

Debate 8, 18 

cessation of 38, 45 

closing of 44 

decorum in 19 

extend the limits of 106 

in Committee of the Whole 57 

limit 106 

main question open to 9, 18 

object of 29 

speak but once in 19 

relevancy in 18 

right of mover in 19, 47, 66 

Debate on subsidiary motions 9, 69 

Declining office 139 

Decorum 101, 138, 133 

Division of a question 107 

Division of the house 32 

Disorder .58, 99, 103, 138 

Duties of presiding officer *••*.. 137 

of recording officer 139 

of treasurer 131 

of other officers 131 

of committees 54, 64 

of members 131, 133 

Election of officers 137 

Electioneering 139 



INDEX. 223 

-, . PAGE. 
Exercises 150 

Explanation of signs 8 

Expulsion of members 102 

Expunge from minutes I43 

Extend limits of debate 106 107 

Filling of blanks 81 

Fix the time to which to adjourn 9, 11, 87 

object of motion [ 87 

form of motion 88 

rank of motion 88 

Floor, how to obtain the 14 15 

getting the '.'.8,14,' 98 

yielding the 121 

Formal ballot 136 137 

General consent 21 97 

House of Representatives 14, 16, 91, 102,117, 

125,' 126 

Incidental questions 9 97 

application of .' 98 

amendment of ! ! 77, 9*8* 109 

forms of .....'....' 100 

rank of ......"..', 98 

undebatable , !...,! 97 

Indefinite postponement 67 

application of motion for '. . . . 10 

effect of • • • • 67 

form of motion 70 

rank of motion iV 53 

why debatable .......' 69 

Informal consideration, HO 

Informal ballot 136 

Introduction of motions 13, 15 

Inquiries, parliamentary 121 

in debate ][[[ 122 



224 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Installation in office 139 

Journal 140 

Lay on the table 9, 10, 11, 38, 47 

application of motion 10, 40, 41 

effect of motion 38, 41 

rank of motion 40 

renewal of motion to 43, 43 

Leave to continue speaking 101 

Limit debate 96 

Main question 9, 10, 11, 13 

applications to 10 

disposal of 13 

introduction of 13 

rank of 11 

Majority vote 20 

Meetings 33, 133, 146 

Members, rights and duties of 131, 133 

Membership 145 

Method of consideration 109 

Minority report 64 

Minutes , 139, 140 

amendment of 143 

approval of 140, 149 

correction of 143 

expunge from 143 

reading of 133, 139, 143, 149 

Motions 9, 17, 39, 33, 150 

as to method of consideration 9, 109 

incidental 9, 97 

privileged 9, 86, 87 

principal 9, 13 

subsidiary 9, 10, 33, 83 

to take up a question out of its proper 
order 53 



INDEX. 225 

PAGE. 

Mover, closes debate 19, 47 

withdraws motion 104 

Name of society 145 

Nomination 59, 133 

by committee 134 

by informal ballot 135, 136 

closing of I83 

from the floor 59, 183 

in temporary organization 144 

of committees 59 

of ofiicers 132 

Nominees vote 138 

Numbering 143 

Objection to consideration 35 

to present consideration 51 

Obtaining the floor 8, 14 

Officers 143, 146 

duties of 127 

election of 137 

necessary 131 

nomination of 132 

temporary 129, 140, 144 

Order of business 149 

Order, point of 99, 100 

calling to 101 

of the day 50, 102 

questions of 100 

special 52, 53 

Order of the day 50, 102 

call for 50, 52, 103 

Organization of a society 143 

temporary 144 

permanent 144 

Parliamentary, use of word 5 

inquiries 121 



226 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Plurality . . 20 

Postpone to a certain time 9, 10, 11, 48, 52 

application of motion 10 

amendment of time 49 

effect of motion 50 

rank of motion . . 11, 49 

Postpone indefinitely 9, 10, 11, 65 

application of motion 10 

debate on motion to 69 

effect of motion 67 

Preamble. 66 

Presiding officer 127 

duties of 127 

power of assembly over 97, 129 

qualifications of 127 

Previous Question 9, 10, 11, 44, 119 

application of 10, 44, 120 

effect of 45, 119 

form of putting 47 

rank of 11, 46 

Precedence or rank of motions 8, 11, 83 

Principal motion or main question 8, 11, 13 

Priority of business 52, 111, 149 

Privileged motions 9, 87 

introduction of 87 

rank of 11, 86, 88, 113 

Privileged questions 9, 86 

rank of 11, 87, 97, 113 

Proxy 138 

Questions and motions 13 

Question of consideration 35 

effect of 38 

form of 37 

rank of 37 

reconsideration of. . . , 38 



INDEX. 227 

^ . PAGE. 

Questions of order. 99 

advice on 100 

rank of .93, 99 

Questions of privilege 9, 86. 94 

introduction of .95, 96 

rank of 11, 97,' 113 

disposal of 96 

Quiz 163 

Quorum 124 

in committee 135 

Rank of motions 9, 11, 84, 86, 98 

of incidental motions 98 

of principal motion .... ; 11 

of privileged questions 11. 88, 9*4, 113 

of subsidiary motions 34, 83, 85 

Reading of papers 103 

Recapitulation of rank 83 

Receiving reports , 65 

Recording officer 129, 130, 141 

Reference tables 9, 10, 11 

Report 65, 122 

after informal consideration 110 

of committees 65, 66 

of Committee of the Whole 57 

of minorir^y 64 

of treasurer 131 

Renewal of motions 42, 43, 93, 115 

Recommit 9, 53 

Recess 93 

form of motion for 93, 94 

rank of motion for 11 

Reconsider 9,11,114,117, 118 

Reconsideration 10, 114 

Request for information . , 122 



228 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Rescind 120 

Rights of members 133 

Rise, in committee 61 

Rules 105, 144, 147 

amend 106 

suspend , 105 

special 148 

Seconder 15 

Seconding 16,17, 114 

Secretary 129 

corresponding 130 

duties of 180 

of committee 63 

recording 129 

rights of 130 

temporary 144 

Sections , 147 

Senate 45, 126 

Session 33 

Special order 52, 53 

Special rules 105, 148 

Stating a question 17 

Sub-committees 61 

Subsidiary motions 9, 10 33 

application of 10 34 

effect of 33 

list of 9, 33, 83 

rank of 10, 11, 35, 83 

Substitution 79 

Substitute bill 81 

Suspension of rules 105, 148 

Tables, motions 9 

applications 10 

rank 11 

recapitulation 83 



INDEX. 229 

PAGE. 

Take from the table 42 

Take up out of order 52 

Take up order of the day 50 

Tellers 26, 138 

Temporary organization 144 

Time of next meeting 87 

Treasurer 131 

Two thirds vote 20 

Unanimous consent 20, 21 

Undebatable motions 8, 9, 68, 69, 87, 97, 119 

Vice-President 129 

Votes and voting .20, 21, 27, 137 

announcing 21, 127 

by acclamat ion 21 

by ballot 25,27, 30, 135, 137 

by general consent 21 

by proxy , 138 

by raising of hands 23 

by standing 22 

by yeas and nays 23, 24, 30 

casting vote 30 

changing a vote 28 

duty of members in 28 

methods of voting 21 

majority 20 

plurality 20 

putting to vote 21 

two-thirds 20, 32 

tie vote 20,30, 31 

unanimous vote 20, 27 

vote for the candidate 26 

vote of thanks 28 

when the Chair votes 30 

Withdrawal of a motion 104 

Yeas and nays 23, 58, 142 

Yielding the floor 121 



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